[Peace-discuss] Let's urge Durbin to speak up in defense of diplomacy to free Bergdahl

[Carl G. Estabrook via Peace-discuss]

In regard to "...pressure from the right wing [and] ... from the left," Chomsky describes "the systems of indoctrination that are employed, often quite consciously, in ... democratic societies: let debate rage, but within limits set by fixed presuppositions, which express the basic interests of power. 

"For example, during the US wars in Indochina, the media and journals of opinion were happy to sponsor debates between 'hawks,' who argued that the US should resort to greater violence and destruction, and 'doves,' who argued that our effort to defend the Vietnamese from terror and foreign attack was becoming too costly, and that we should seek other means to attain our noble objectives. The more that debate rages, the less likely people are to ask the obvious questions: for example, are we defending Vietnam by attacking it? Fortunately, great numbers of people broke out of the hawk–dove spectrum, though very few intellectuals. Much the same holds on many other issues." 

Right now the administration is desperately afraid that "great numbers of people [may break] out of the hawk–dove spectrum." 

If you agree with Carl, do something - like talking to other Obama opponents - to increase their fears. 

--CGE

On Jun 4, 2014, at 1:53 PM, Robert Naiman <naiman at justforeignpolicy.org> wrote:

> It's a shame that you use your energy to argue for passivity and inaction. Whether you like or dislike Durbin is not the point. Members of Congress respond to pressure. Right now they are getting pressure from the right wing. The question on the table is whether there should be pressure from the left.
> 
> Durbin's number is (202) 224-2152. If you agree with Carl, do nothing.
> 
> 
> 
> Robert Naiman
> Policy Director
> Just Foreign Policy
> www.justforeignpolicy.org
> naiman at justforeignpolicy.org
> (202) 448-2898 x1
> 
> 
> On Wed, Jun 4, 2014 at 1:40 PM, Carl G. Estabrook <galliher at illinois.edu> wrote:
> Durbin is as hypocritical as Obama, just dumber. 
> 
> We all remember his tears over Gitmo. We don't remember his reason for them. 
> 
> 
> On Jun 4, 2014, at 1:35 PM, Robert Naiman via Peace-discuss <peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net> wrote:
> 
>> So, Harry Reid went to the Senate floor and said this:
>> 
>> Reid: GOP hypocrites on Bergdahl
>> http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/208213-reid-charges-gop-with-hypocrisy-on-bergdahl
>> 
>> Since Durbin has long been critical of 1) the endless war in Afghanistan and 2) Gitmo, wouldn't it make sense for Durbin to speak up?
>> 
>> I think so. So I called Durbin's office and said: I saw that Senator Reid spoke up. Why not Senator Durbin?
>> 
>> You can too:
>> (202) 224-2152
>> 
>> ===
>> 
>> Robert Naiman
>> Policy Director
>> Just Foreign Policy
>> www.justforeignpolicy.org
>> naiman at justforeignpolicy.org
>> (202) 448-2898 x1
>> _______________________________________________
>> Peace-discuss mailing list
>> Peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net
>> https://lists.chambana.net/mailman/listinfo/peace-discuss
> 
> 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.chambana.net/pipermail/peace-discuss/attachments/20140604/27452199/attachment.html>