Be careful when you wrestle with monsters, lest you thereby become one. For, if you stare long enough into the abyss, the abyss also stares into you.
-- Friedrich Nietsche

hi all, Im coming up on building this blog up for 1.5yrs now. its been a wild ride. some as expected, some not as expected.

Ive actually been blogging at another location for over 10yrs. blogging can be a very solitary and at-times thankless activity. mostly when you think no one is listening.

Im glad to have this opportunity to post some of my musings in cyberspace.

my link lists (on the left) have grown very sizable in the time that Ive been on here. I didnt start out to catch so many links, but have really gotten into it for some of the various chosen topics. I always had the idea that I might expand some of the link lists into blog posts.

I guess that time has come with one of my top link lists up to 63 links [warbotics] and the others high also. they've gotten unweildy, and besides, I think it dilutes the google scores on all my blogs when theres a lot of miscellaneous links taking up a significant part of the page.

but, timing is everything. it makes the most sense to try to "spin off" these lists into posts if the content is topical and fresh and keeping up with current events (even better, ahead of them!).

so my 1st choice to "spin off" the link list. the WARMACHINE. based on recent events with wikileaks. also, we have the washingtonpost article analyzing the growth of the US Security/Police State.

the wikileaks disclosure is a phenomenal moment in the history of the internet, if you ask me. years ago [more than 1.5 decade ago when the internet & web was in its infancy] I speculated that the internet might increase the power of whistleblowers. that power has somewhat and partially been realized. but with the disclosure about a wk ago of the ~95k war reports, Id say that possibility has finally been realized.

for years, Ive watched as the military industrial complex has grown to monstrous proportions. I already thought it was large and subversive even in the 90s, when Clinton cut it. but in about 1.5 decade it has grown to near-cancerous proportions.

it is rare that you will find anything critical of the Warmachine in the docile, compliant, supine, compromised, shallow US [mass] media.

but, if you type in a few magic search terms on google, maybe you'll find this page in the noise.

I could write a long editorial on the warmachine and have written quite a few blog posts on the subject. but for now, I will let the links speak for themselves.

I will add to this page periodically as I find new links. I will add the latest ones at the top.

hope you find it useful. I encourage you to pass it on.

lets all imagine the possibility of an END to the Warmachine in our lifetimes.

there are a few basic themes that stand out in these links which I should eventually further organize this page on.

1) war propaganda or also "war porn"
2) true costs of [the] war including massive fraud and indirect costs
3) hidden negative information about the war
4) US as now a dissolute "empire"
5) true benefactors of war-- military corporations
6) the ineffectiveness or futility of war
7) war abuses/crimes
8) false provocation/ false flag operations
9) orwellian "serial" or "endless" war

Obama vs. Obama On Endless Wars: Who Wins? (VIDEO, POLL)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/10/obama-vs-obama-on-afghani_n_676836.html

Robert Gibbs' Phony Liberal Bashing
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-08-11/robert-gibbs-disagrees-but-are-obama-and-bush-the-same/?cid=hp:mainpromo7

Is War Becoming Obsolete? Western countries spend a fortune on their armies -- but they don't seem to have any effect.
http://www.alternet.org/world/147683/is_war_becoming_obsolete/?page=1

Corruption in Afghanistan -- US Cuts Aid After Millions Siphoned Off to Dubai
http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,704665,00.html

America's Tragic Descent in to Empire
http://www.alternet.org/world/147428/america%27s_tragic_descent_into_empire/?page=1

Why We Must Reduce Military Spending
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-barney-frank/why-we-must-reduce-milita_b_636051.html

Bush: War Boosts The U.S. Economy (VIDEO)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/27/bush-war-boosts-the-us-ec_n_592444.html

Is it wrong to watch 'war porn'? Some say Americans are developing an addiction to graphic online war videos. Should we look away — or is war something we need to see?
http://theweek.com/article/index/202592/Is_it_wrong_to_watch_war_porn

Carnage.com-- Videos depicting the gruesome deaths of enemy soldiers—and civilians—have taken the Internet by storm.
http://www.newsweek.com/id/237182

The Huge Underground Audience for War Porn From Afghanistan and Iraq
http://www.alternet.org/media/146617/the_huge_underground_audience_for_war_porn_from_afghanistan_and_iraq_

The Godfather USA
http://english.pravda.ru/opinion/columnists/79790-0/

Washington's $8 Billion Shadow -- megacontractor SAIC
http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2007/03/spyagency200703

The Hurt Locker Oscar Win Is a Prize For American Hubris -- The Academy liked this Iraq film for being "apolitical." In fact it's the opposite: an endorsement of the politically chauvinistic view that the world is a stage for Americans.
http://www.alternet.org/world/145984/the_hurt_locker_oscar_win_is_a_prize_for_american_hubris

Tomgram: Engelhardt, The Afghan Mask Slips
http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/175209/tomgram:_engelhardt,_the_afghan_mask_slips/

American Blitzkrieg Loving the German War Machine to Death
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/american-blitzkrieg-lovin_b_467329.html

The Terror-Industrial Complex by Chris Hedges
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/the_terror-industrial_complex_20100208/

Huge Deficits May Hamper America's Ability to Wage Pointless Wars, Pentagon Fears
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andy-borowitz/huge-deficits-may-hamper_b_445746.html

National Insecurity -- CIA turned in to paramilitary agency
http://www.campaignforliberty.com/article.php?view=565

Astonishing Report: We're Executing Gitmo Prisoners and Calling It Suicide
http://www.alternet.org/rights/145257/astonishing_report%3A_we%27re_executing_gitmo_prisoners_and_calling_it_suicide

The Guantánamo “Suicides”: A Camp Delta sergeant blows the whistle
http://www.harpers.org/archive/2010/01/hbc-90006368

Pentagon pursuing new investigation in to Bush propaganda program
http://rawstory.com/2009/11/pentagon-pursuing-investigation-bush-propaganda-program/

Why Are We So Blind to the True Horrors of War?
http://www.alternet.org/world/144929/why_are_we_so_blind_to_the_true_horrors_of_war?page=1

Shining Light on Roots of Terrorism
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Shining-Light-on-Roots-of-by-Ray-McGovern-091116-501.html

Global Warfare USA: The World is the Pentagon's Oyster -- US military operations in all major regions of the World
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=16111

CIA fires blackwater over shoddy drone maintenance
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/12/us/politics/12blackwater.html?_r=1

Blackwater Guards Tied to Secret C.I.A. Raids
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/11/us/politics/11blackwater.html?_r=1

High Costs Weigh on Troop Debate for Afghan War -- $1M/soldier/year
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/15/us/politics/15cost.html?_r=1&hp

As Gen. McChrystal and Ambassador Eikenberry duke it out over troop headcount, Derek Thompson asks why no one ever talks about the soaring cost of the Afghan war.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-11-12/spilling-red-ink-on-the-battlefield/?cid=hp:mainpromo2

Pentagon Pouring Your Money In to Afghanistan: Are They Preparing for a Very Long War?
http://www.alternet.org/story/143819/pentagon_pouring_your_money_into_afghanistan%3A_are_they_preparing_for_a_very_long_war

Our terrorists -- Islamic fundamentalist militants are the enemies of Israel and Western governments, right? Think again. Nafeez Mosaddeq Ahmed reports.
http://www.newint.org/features/2009/10/01/blowback/

Pentagon used psychological operation on US public, documents show
http://rawstory.com/2009/10/bryan-whitman-2/

Jon Krakauer: McChrystal's Explanation For Pat Tillman Cover-up Is "Preposterous"
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/01/jon-krakauer-mcchrystals_n_341545.html

Generals Can't Be Trusted
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-10-31/generals-cant-be-trusted/?cid=hp:mainpromo6

Troops In Afghanistan Already Outnumber Taliban 12-1
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/27/troops-in-afghanistan-out_0_n_336096.html

Why President Obama Can't Let Himself Be Blackmailed by His Generals
http://www.alternet.org/world/142826/why_president_obama_can%27t_let_himself_be_blackmailed_by_his_generals

Is America Hooked on War? by Tom Englehardt
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-engelhardt/is-america-hooked-on-war_b_290412.html

Americans: Serfs Ruled by Oligarchs
http://www.infowars.com/americans-serfs-ruled-by-oligarchs/

War on Terror: Foreign Policy -- Could it be that our foreign policy decisions are determined by the most powerful corporations on the planet? [www.yournetwork.tv, 7min]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcvEQsa3nE4&feature=player_embedded

Coming to terms with a global war on terror is nearly impossible given the incalculable human and financial costs. [www.yournetwork.tv, 7min]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWCOfYNo4Fo&feature=player_embedded

Three Good Reasons To Liquidate Our Empire and 10 Ways to Do It
http://www.alternet.org/world/141689/three_good_reasons_to_liquidate_our_empire_and_10_ways_to_do_it/

America's Wars: How Serial War Became the American Way of Life
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-bromwich/americas-wars-how-serial_b_242347.html

Predictive Programming 2.0: Operation Blackjack
http://www.infowars.com/predictive-programming-20-operation-blackjack/

Osama Bin Laden: Dead Or Alive? The Eight-Year-Long Psychological Operation. Review of a new book by David Ray Griffin
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=13743

When Will Obama Give Up the Bin Laden Ghost Hunt?
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1859354,00.html

The spies who pushed for war
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2003/jul/17/iraq.usa

How the spooks took over the news
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/how-the-spooks-took-over-%20the-news-780672.html

Bush told Houston Journalist: If Elected, “I’m Going to Invade Iraq”
http://www.infowars.com/bush-told-houston-journalist-if-elected-im-going-to-invade-iraq/

THE Iraq war is a central cause of the sub-prime banking crisis threatening the world economy, according to Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23286149-2703,00.html

The Disease of Permanent War -- The embrace by any society of permanent war is a parasite that devours the heart and soul of a nation. by Chris Hedges
http://www.alternet.org/democracy/140106/the_disease_of_permanent_war/

The military industrial porn complex -- Popular science magazines used to be aimed at the geeky wannabe inventor. Today, it's all about the glamour of war.
http://dir.salon.com/story/tech/feature/2004/03/30/military_mags/index.html

How the US sent $12bn in cash to Iraq. And watched it vanish
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/feb/08/usa.iraq1

Blackjack Part 3: Telegraph Continues Propaganda Piece, Depicts Concentration Camps, Martial Law
http://www.infowars.com/blackjack-part-3-telegraph-continues-propaganda-piece-depicts-concentration-camps-martial-law/

Billions over Baghdad
http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2007/10/iraq_billions200710

Behind TV Analysts, Pentagon’s Hidden Hand
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/20/us/20generals.html

The Man Who Sold the War -- Meet John Rendon, Bush's general in the propaganda war
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/8798997/the_man_who_sold_the_war/

The Great Iraq Swindle -- How Bush Allowed an Army of For-Profit Contractors to Invade the U.S. Treasury
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/16076312/the_great_iraq_swindle

Mass Assassinations Lie at the Heart of America's Military Strategy in the Muslim World
Greatly expanded U.S. military Special Ops teams, U.S. drone strikes and private espionage networks run by former CIA assassins create a threat to our security.
http://www.alternet.org/news/147944/mass_assassinations_lie_at_the_heart_of_america%27s_military_strategy_in_the_muslim_world/

U.S. Leading The Terror In Afghanistan
http://www.countercurrents.org/hassan120810.htm

10 Needed Steps for Obama to Start Dismantling America's Gigantic, Destructive Military Empire
http://www.alternet.org/world/147964/10_needed_steps_for_obama_to_start_dismantling_america%27s_gigantic%2C_destructive_military_empire/

The Greatest Covert Operation Ever: The Politics of Terror as the Business of Terror
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=20830

What America Has Lost
It’s clear we overreacted to 9/11.
http://www.newsweek.com/2010/09/04/zakaria-why-america-overreacted-to-9-11.html

Army 'ignored warning on soldiers' plot to kill Afghans'
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/army-ignored-warning-on-soldiers-plot-to-kill-afghans-2075430.html

US soldiers 'killed Afghan civilians for sport and collected fingers as trophies'
Soldiers face charges over secret 'kill team' which allegedly murdered at random and collected fingers as trophies of war
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/sep/09/us-soldiers-afghan-civilians-fingers

The Secret Killers: Covert Assassins Charged With Hunting Down and Killing Afghans
Capture/kill teams leave a trail of dead civilian bodies and recrimination in their wake, undermining any goodwill created by U.S. reconstruction projects.
http://www.alternet.org/story/148012/the_secret_killers%3A_covert_assassins_charged_with_hunting_down_and_killing_afghans/

America's Empire and Endless Wars Are Destroying the World, and Ruining Our Great Country
For more than 50 years, Washington has subscribed to the absurd notion that America can police the world with military action. All we've managed to do is bankrupt our country.
http://www.alternet.org/world/148094/america%27s_empire_and_endless_wars_are_destroying_the_world%2C_and_ruining_our_great_country/

Shadow Elite: What Blackwater Sells (and the Government Wants): Deniability
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/janine-r-wedel/emshadow-eliteem-what-bla_b_710248.html

US Courts Legalize CIA Abduction, Overseas Detention, Torture Of Innocent American Citizens
http://www.infowars.com/us-courts-legalize-cia-abduction-overseas-detention-torture-of-innocent-american-citizens/

Do Not Pity the Democrats
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/do_not_pity_the_democrats_20100913/

The Power and Influence of the Military Establishment is Destroying Our Democracy
http://www.opednews.com/articles/The-Power-and-Influence-of-by-michael-payne-100915-60.html

Never Forget: Bad Wars Aren't Possible Unless Good People Back Them by Michael Moore
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-moore/never-forget-bad-wars-are_b_718337.html

Britain ponders deep military Spending Cuts
http://www.newsweek.com/2010/09/18/britain-ponders-deep-military-spending-cuts.html

Woodward Book Says Afghanistan Divided White House
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/22/world/asia/22policy.html?_r=1

Woodward book says aides doubt Obama’s Afghan strategy
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2010/09/woodward-expose-details-afghan-policy-battles/

CIA’s Afghan Kill Teams Expand U.S. War in Pakistan [Updated]
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2010/09/cias-afghan-kill-teams-expand-u-s-war-in-pakistan/#ixzz10eIjgTnD

Editor's Notebook: Afghan War Now Country's Longest
Afghan War Now Marks Another Grim Milestone
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/afghan-war-now-longest-war-us-history/story?id=10849303

Is the Military Undermining the Constitution?
According to Bob Woodward's new book, the Pentagon gamed the Afghan war decision to the military's liking (with Woodward's help.) Meanwhile, perpetual war is on Petraeus' agenda.
http://www.alternet.org/world/148308/is_the_military_undermining_the_constitution/

The president’s efforts to assassinate the American-Muslim cleric al-Awlaki are the latest sign that he’s embraced Bush’s radical views of executive power, says Roger D. Hodge. His new book, The Mendacity of Hope, argues that Obama has betrayed liberalism and the Constitution.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-09-30/obamas-terrorism-policies-worse-than-bushs-roger-d-hodge/?cid=topic:mainpromo6

US Bases Abroad Trigger Suicide Terrorism: Are There Other Options?
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steve-clemons/us-bases-abroad-trigger-s_b_750774.html

The War Addicts: the Pentagon and Military Would Do Almost Anything to Continue Neverending War
Perpetual war is in the military and Pentagon's blood -- and they're ready to face down the commander-in-chief to make it continue.
http://www.alternet.org/world/148389/the_war_addicts%3A_the_pentagon_and_military_would_do_almost_anything_to_continue_neverending_war/?page=1

Troops 'overwhelmed and cannot defeat Taliban'
http://www.theage.com.au/national/troops-overwhelmed-and-cannot-defeat-taliban-20101016-16odk.html

Why We Can't Win the "War on Terror"
When, where, and how will the war end? Bluntly, are we almost there yet? Not even.
http://www.alternet.org/world/148456/why_we_can%27t_win_the_%22war_on_terror%22/

'Beyond Madness': Obama's War on Terror Setting Nuclear-Armed Pakistan on Fire
http://www.alternet.org/world/148734/%27beyond_madness%27%3A_obama%27s_war_on_terror_setting_nuclear-armed_pakistan_on_fire/

How the Wars Are Sinking the Economy
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-10-27/the-economic-crisis-and-the-hidden-cost-of-the-wars/?cid=hp:mainpromo4

A cache of top secret documents show a striking parallel between what the Soviets faced in Afghanistan, and what U.S. lawmakers now debate
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-11-04/top-secret-documents-show-parallels-between-us-and-soviet-occupation-of-afghanistan/?cid=hp:mainpromo8

Dennis Kucinich: Fake Taliban Leader, Fake Elections, Fake Deadline, Real Trouble
http://www.truth-out.org/dennis-kucinich-fake-taliban-leader-fake-elections-fake-deadline-real-trouble65417

The Two Most Essential, Abhorrent, Intolerable Lies Of George W. Bush's Memoir
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/22/the-two-most-esssential-a_n_786219.html

War-Toy Wishes
http://www.newsweek.com/2010/11/13/the-air-force-s-war-toy-wish.html

Is America on the path to 'permanent war'?
http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/11/23/war.afghan/index.html

Taliban Leader in Secret Talks Was an Impostor
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/23/world/asia/23kabul.html?scp=11&sq=filkins&st=cse

The Taliban's Laughing
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-11-26/after-revelation-of-taliban-negotiation-imposter-taliban-commanders-laughs-at-us/

US Now in Afghanistan as Long as Soviets
http://www.dailymailtimes.com/?p=649

How Our Trillion-Dollar Empire Is the Cause of Our 'Deficit Problem' | Economy | AlterNet
http://www.alternet.org/economy/149019/how_our_trillion-dollar_empire_is_the_cause_of_our_%27deficit_problem%27/

The Decline and Fall of the American Empire | The Nation
http://www.thenation.com/article/156851/decline-and-fall-american-empire

How the Pentagon Turns Working-Class Men into the Deadliest Killers on the Planet | Books | AlterNet
http://www.alternet.org/books/149165/how_the_pentagon_turns_working-class_men_into_the_deadliest_killers_on_the_planet/

Needed: A 12-Step Program for the Warmongers -- The Pentagon Been Hooked on Empire for 30 Years | World | AlterNet
http://www.alternet.org/world/149425/needed%3A_a_12-step_program_for_the_warmongers_--_the_pentagon_been_hooked_on_empire_for_30_years/

Prophets of War: How Defense Contractor Lockheed Martin Dominates the Military Establishment | Books | AlterNet
http://www.alternet.org/books/149492/prophets_of_war%3A_how_defense_contractor_lockheed_martin_dominates_the_military_establishment/

William Hartung: Is Lockheed Martin Shadowing You? How a Giant Weapons Maker Became the New Big Brother
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-hartung/is-lockheed-martin-shadow_b_807419.html

Janine R. Wedel: Shadow Elite: Eisenhower's Dark Vision Realized - The Military-Industrial Complex At 50
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/janine-r-wedel/emshadow-eliteem-eisenhow_b_808410.html

How Did Super Bloated Defense Spending Become Such a Sacred Cow That We Can't Have a Debate About Cutting It? | Economy | AlterNet
http://www.alternet.org/economy/149712/how_did_super_bloated_defense_spending_become_such_a_sacred_cow_that_we_can%27t_have_a_debate_about_cutting_it/?page=1

25 Tons of Bombs Wipe Afghan Town Off Map | Danger Room | Wired.com
http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2011/01/25-tons-of-bombs-wipes-afghan-town-off-the-map/