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These periodic ramblings are written, produced and directed by Ronald Dale Karr, University of Massachusetts Lowell, who is solely responsible for the content. Obviously, the opinions expressed here are my own, not those of the University. |
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These periodic ramblings are written, produced and directed by Ronald Dale Karr, University of Massachusetts Lowell, who is solely responsible for the content. Obviously, the opinions expressed here are my own, not those of the University. |
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WHEN LAST WE LEFT BOMBER BILL
he was facing disaster in KOSOVO. Slobo was stubbornly refusing to surrender despite a thorough wacking from the West, and a bloody ground invasion seemed increasingly likely. And then, suddenly, his cities in ruins and his army blown to pieces Slobo threw in the towel. The COMEBACK KID once more had pulled it off! A stirring and astonishingly cheap victory for the forces of Truth, Justice, and Global Capitalism over the Dark Lord of the Balkans! Kosovo would become a multi-ethnic, capitalist democracy, SLOBO, disgraced by defeat, would be consigned to the dustbin of history, and Serbia too would enjoy the blessings of the New World Order.
SEVEN MONTHS LATERthe luster has faded from CLINTON'S TRIUMPH. Albanian Kosovars have ethnically cleansed their province of most Serbians and Gypsies while NATO troops looked on. Slobo is more popular and strongly entrenched than ever. Contrary to NATO wartime propaganda, Slobo's armed forces weathered the bombing quite well, with minimal losses. Meanwhile, the shattered Serbian population faces a MEAN WINTER without sufficient heat, electricity, medicine, even food. As in Iraq, the bombing and current sanctions will kill thousands more, particularly children and the elderly, without weakening the government. And as in Iraq, don't expect to hear reports of suffering in Belgrade from the media. Contrary to Clinton's expectations, the Serbians blame NATO, not Slobo, for their suffering. Someday they will get their revenge. With Albania on the rise and Greece's unpopular pro-NATO government facing massive protests, the region is precariously unstable. And RUSSIA, armed with nuclear weapons and extremely dangerous, is thoroughly alienated from the West. A cheap victory, indeed. Nice work, Bill!
AS WE PREDICTEDNATO bombs killed as many Yugoslavian civilians as Slobo's forces are alleged to have killed in their pre-war round of "ethnic cleansing." Now Kosovo is "safe," provided NATO troops remain there indefinitely. Their presence will make certain that even after Slobo retires from the scene, his successors will have a ready target on which to focus Serbian discontent. UNFORTUNATELY, the lesson apparently learned from KOSOVO is that the New World Order can be enforced by bombing or the threat of bombing, without having to suffer a single casualty. Look for regular intervention in the years to come, as dissatisfaction with a global economy that enriches a tiny segment of the globe at the expense of the rest of the planet intensifies.
SEATTLE
Speaking of the global economy, the Anti-World Trade Organization demonstrations in November gave us old New Leftists a thrill, especially after the failure to mount any sort of sustained protest in this country against the savage bombing of Yugoslavian civilians. The fierce, unconstitutional response of the inept Seattle government reminded us (as if the Yugoslavian bombing had not) that the New World Order ultimately rests on FORCE, not on democracy, "free trade," the rule of law, or the irresistible popularity of corporate capitalism. Whether or not the world's inhabitants would freely choose unrestrained market capitalism is irrelevant, since they won't be asked. We know what's best for them. And we've got the power. Bombs away!
POWER
As we start the new century, America rules the world. As the globe's sole superpower, the United States dominates the world economy and culture as has no other nation in history. With no apparent limits to American power, all must bend to our will. We control the horizontal, we control the vertical. Until Russia gets its act together our behavior will continue to be reckless and completely unrestrained (Clinton bombed four different countries in less than a year!). What is the basis of this power? If you follow Paul Kennedy, military prowess ultimately depends on economic strength. Certainly this is the way Washington sees it. American hegemony rests not on its weapons but on its superior economic system of unrestrained market capitalism. Right? But what if Kennedy has it backwards? It seems just as logical to conclude that it is military force that makes possible the New World Order, which impoverishes most of the planet for the benefit of the few. Is it our smart bombs or our smart businessmen or politicians that really matter?
ELECTION Y2KMost Americans responded to the Yugoslavian bombing with a yawn and a shrug. Who cares? Despite the calls of a few bloodthirsty interventionists, who would have the U.S. bomb half the world's countries, the nation generally ignored the war. Except in times of crisis, foreign affairs play little role in American politics, and our times are no exception. Only if THE ECONOMY goes South in the next few months can we expect the 2000 elections to generate any excitement.
GORE, BRADLEY, OR W? Look for the Y2K Presidential elections to be the DULLEST EVER. Don't be surprised if less than 40% of the potential electorate bothers to cast a ballot. All three candidates are shills for corporate capitalism who sing the praises of the New World Order. All three are hostile to labor, consumers, the third world, the poor, the environment (despite Gore's posturing), and anything else standing in the way of the workings of the "free market." All three are unabashed global interventionists. No matter who gets elected, most Americans, along with the rest of the world, lose again.
AS FOR THIRD PARTIESDonald Trump? Pat Buchanan? Jesse "The Body"? Get real.
AT THIS POINT
the smart money (ahem!) would have to be on W. Since few voters care, the man who puts on the best show will win. And Bush Lite can certainly afford a good show. Even if he blows the New Hampshire primary to McCain—which he probably won't—the defeat will be temporary. In New Hampshire, personal-style campaigning and grass-roots organizing may still be effective, but in the big states, the media is the key to victory. As for BRADLEY and GORE, even a win for the former in the Granite State will be unlikely to overcome the grip on the party loyalists enjoyed by Gore. Only if the fat cats move decisively to underwrite Bradley would he stand a chance. As it is, either Gore or Bradley are likely to be trounced by W in November. Nobody has ever raised money before like ol' Junior Bush. And in American politics, money counts.
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Send all comments on the Karr Report to Ronald Dale Karr
Ronald_Karr@uml.edu