[Peace-discuss] anti-neoconservative notes

[J.B. Nicholson]

Some notes to spur discussion on AWARE on the Air.



Somalia: The "autopilot" drone-led oil war the media isn't talking about.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pd2E9FSKki4 -- RT's report on the US-led 
Somali war in which airstrikes and killer drones are leading the way to 
clearing out anyone who stops the US from "readying for oil exploration" 
and "working on petroleum law"[1] to quote the Voice of America News.

 From RT's report:
> The US has been bombing al-Shabaab Islamic militants there [in Somalia],
> on and off, since 2007. It's proved a minor inconvenience to the
> Al-Qaeda fanboys who continue to go about their business pretty much
> unimpeded. So the hundreds of thousands of civilians forced to flee
> their homes[2] have found themselves caught between the usual lunatic
> terrorists and anonymous killing machines.

[1] 
https://www.voanews.com/a/somalia-readies-for-oil-exploration-still-working-on-petroleum-law/4785064.html
[2] 
https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/03/07/us-bombardments-are-driving-somalis-from-their-homes-airstrikes-al-shabab/

RT continues:
> So the US military has found itself in quite the sweet spot: it's got a
> surplus of killer drones that are no longer needed in Syria, and a nice
> sandy warzone that no one is paying attention to. Guess what they 
> decided? Airstrikes for Somalia! They've surged in the past 6 months. 
> Dozens of militants have been killed.[3] And absolutely no civilians, 
> says the military. Aid agencies and locals say that actually civilians 
> have been killed[4].

[3] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-46592101
[4] https://allafrica.com/stories/201712110133.html

RT concludes:
> Somalia is a straightforward war to fight: there's an obvious bad guy, 
> the drones are doing all of the heavy lifting, and it's all being 
> conducted by US Africa command in -- Stuttgart. A city, many of you will
> know, isn't actually in Africa. A former US government official 
> described Somalia as war "on autopilot"[5]. Bombing campaigns against 
> poor countries have not worked out well in the past. But then again, if
> no one is paying attention, what do they have to lose?

[5] 
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/10/us/politics/us-somalia-airstrikes-shabab.html 
-- Former National Security Council analyst Brittany Brown, now chief of 
staff for the International Crisis Group told this to the New York Times: 
"People need to pay attention to the fact that there is this massive war 
going on".



Venezuela: US gives away Venezuelan properties, stumping for war?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lVBqV5cPqg -- The US wants to seize 
control of the Venezuelan Military Attache building in Washington DC. 
Carlos Vecchio, Juan Guaido's so-called Venezuelan ambassador to the US, 
took control of another Venezuelan government building after having a 
locksmith let him in and did so with the blessing of the US State Dept.




DPRK: Is the CIA behind a DPRK embassy break-in?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PtLXM3sD1NA -- The DPRK embassy was raided 
on Friday, February 22 shortly before the Trump/Kim Jong-Un summit in 
Hanoi. 10 masked men broke into the embassy in the afternoon, bound and 
gagged the staff, interrogated the staff, and stole equipment. One woman 
escaped by climbing out a window and got someone to call the police:

RT's report:

> Officers knocked on the door to investigate but they were greeted by a 
> man who opened the door and told them everything was fine. Shortly 
> after, two cars left the compound at high speed, one of them reportedly 
> actually carrying that man who opened the door. [...] According to 
> Spanish police and investigators from Spain's national intelligence 
> center, yes, the CIA was involved; they have linked this attack to the 
> CIA. According to El Pais [...] they reported that these investigators 
> have ruled out that this was a simple robbery by what they call "common 
> criminals". Although the CIA has, of course, denied involvement, the 
> Spanish government is telling El Pais that the CIA report is 
> "unconvincing". They say that this attack was "perfectly planned, as 
> though it were carried out by a military cell".

See https://elpais.com/elpais/2019/03/13/inenglish/1552464196_279320.html 
for more.





Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) on CNN; explaining her request for evidence, not 
being examined closely on some other war-related issues.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZSGZINjvbs -- Jimmy Dore's take on Rep. 
Tulsi Gabbard's (D-HI) interview in another CNN "town hall forum". CNN set 
up their pro-war questioners, seemingly hand-picked from the elites to 
represent pro-war views. It's the usual repeat questions trying to allege 
that Rep. Gabbard is 'soft on Assad' followed by Gabbard's patient 
explanation that she wants the evidence to guide her understanding of what 
is going on in Syria and what the US did.

There were no questions asking her about her views supporting "surgical 
strikes", drone war, and her view that there should be "no long-term 
deployment, no long-term occupation" (quoting her from her January 2018 
Intercept interview). I get into her seemingly pro-war views in 
https://digitalcitizen.info/2019/02/13/is-tulsi-gabbard-really-anti-war-no-shes-pro-drone-and-for-surgical-strikes/.

Jimmy Dore offered no examination of that Intercept interview.

 From https://theintercept.com/2018/01/17/intercepted-podcast-white-mirror/

> Jeremy Scahill: I’m wondering what your position, I know that in the
> past you have said that you favor a small footprint approach with strike
> forces and limited use of weaponized drones. Is that still your position
> that you think that’s the — to the extent that you believe the U.S.
> military should be used around the world for counterterrorism, is that
> still your position?
> 
> Rep. Tulsi Gabbard: Well, when we’re dealing with the unconventional
> threat of terrorist groups like ISIS, al Qaeda and some of these other
> groups that are affiliated with them, we should not be using basically
> what has been and continues to be the current policy of these mass
> mobilization of troops, these long occupations and trillions of dollars
> going in, really abusing the Authorization to Use Military Force and
> taking action that expands far beyond the legal limitations of those
> current AUMFs.
> 
> So, with these terrorist cells, for example, yes, I do still believe
> that the right approach to take is these quick strike forces, surgical
> strikes, in and out, very quickly, no long-term deployment, no long-term
> occupation to be able to get rid of the threat that exists and then get
> out and the very limited use of drones in those situations where our
> military is not able to get in without creating an unacceptable level of
> risk, and where you can make sure that you’re not causing, you know, a
> large amount of civilian casualties.



Military spending: still on the rise, the top 6 companies remain the same 
(with only minor rank shuffling).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4EKumpI3hg
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/02/21/military-spending-defense-contractors-profiting-from-war-weapons-sales/39092315/

 From USA Today in 2019:

> There was a 1.1 percent increase in global military spending in 2017,
> according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
> 
> The global rise was driven partially by a $9.6 billion hike in U.S. arms
> expenditure – the United States is the world’s largest defense spender
> by a wide margin. Though it is yet unclear what the growing arms
> investments will mean for international relations, major defense
> contractors around the world stand to benefit.
> 
> Total arms sales among the world’s 100 largest defense contractors
> topped $398 billion in 2017 after climbing for the third consecutive
> year. Notably, Russia, one of the countries with the fastest growing
> militaries over the last decade, became the second largest
> arms-producing country, overtaking the United Kingdom for the first time
> since 2002. The United States’ position as the top arms-producing nation
> in the world remains unchanged, and for now unchallenged.
> 
> The United States is home to five of the world’s 10 largest defense
> contractors, and American companies account for 57 percent of total arms
> sales by the world’s 100 largest defense contractors, based on SIPRI
> data.
> 
> Maryland-based Lockheed Martin, the largest defense contractor in the
> world, is estimated to have had $44.9 billion in arms sales in 2017
> through deals with governments all over the world. The company drew
> public scrutiny after a bomb it sold to Saudi Arabia was dropped on a
> school bus in Yemen, killing 40 boys and 11 adults. Lockheed’s revenue
> from the U.S. government alone is well more than the total annual
> budgets of the IRS and the Environmental Protection Agency, combined.

The top 6 war profiteers (weapons contractors or "defense contractors" to 
use their parlance) remain the same -- Lockheed Martin, Boeing, BAE 
Systems, General Dynamics, Raytheon, and Northrop Grumman.



 From USA Today in 2013 -- 
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/03/10/10-companies-profiting-most-from-war/1970997/

> The business of war is profitable. In 2011, the 100 largest contractors
> sold $410 billion in arms and military services. Just 10 of those
> companies sold over $208 billion. Based on a list of the top 100
> arms-producing and military services companies in 2011 compiled by the
> Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), 24/7 Wall St.
> reviewed the 10 companies with the most military sales worldwide.
> 
> These companies have benefited tremendously from the growth in military
> spending in the U.S., which by far has the largest military budget in
> the world. In 2000, the U.S. defense budget was approximately $312
> billion. By 2011, the figure had grown to $712 billion. Arm sales grew
> alongside general defense spending growth. SIPRI noted that between 2002
> and 2011, arms sales among the top 100 companies grew by 51%.
> 
> However, the trend has recently reversed. In 2011, the top 100 arms
> dealers sold 5% less compared to 2010. Susan Jackson, a SIPRI defense
> expert, said in an email to 24/7 Wall St. that austerity measures in
> Western Europe and the U.S. have delayed or slowed the procurement of
> different weapons systems. Austerity concerns have exacerbated matters.
> Federal budget cuts that took effect in March mean military spending
> could contract by more than $500 billion over the coming decade unless
> policymakers negotiate a pullback on the mandated cuts.
> 
> In addition, the U.S.' involvement in conflicts abroad continue to wind
> down. The last American convoy in Iraq left the country in December
> 2011. Troop withdrawals from Afghanistan also began in 2011. Finally,
> SIPRI pointed out sanctions on arms transfers to Libya have contributed
> to declining arms sales.



 From USA Today in 2019 -- 
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/02/21/military-spending-defense-contractors-profiting-from-war-weapons-sales/39092315/

> 10. Almaz-Antey
> • Country: Russia
> • Arms sales: $8.6 billion
> • Total sales: $9.1 billion
> • Profit: $422.6 million
> • Employees: 129,000
> 
> 9. Leonardo
> • Country: Italy
> • Arms sales: $8.9 billion
> • Total sales: $13.0 billion
> • Profit: $310.3 million
> • Employees: 45,134
> 
> 8. Thales
> • Country: France
> • Arms sales: $9.0 billion
> • Total sales: $17.8 billion
> • Profit: $931.1 million
> • Employees: 65,000
> 
> 7. Airbus Group
> • Country: Trans-European
> • Arms sales: $11.3 billion
> • Total sales: $75.2 billion
> • Profit: $3.3 billion
> • Employees: 133,671
> 
> 6. General Dynamics Corp.
> • Country: United States
> • Arms sales: $19.5 billion
> • Total sales: $31.0 billion
> • Profit: $2.9 billion
> • Employees: 105,600
> 
> 5. Northrop Grumman Corp.
> • Country: United States
> • Arms sales: $22.4 billion
> • Total sales: $25.8 billion
> • Profit: $2.0 billion
> • Employees: 85,000
> 
> 4. BAE Systems
> • Country: United Kingdom
> • Arms sales: $22.9 billion
> • Total sales: $23.5 billion
> • Profit: $1.1 billion
> • Employees: 83,200
> 
> 3. Raytheon
> • Country: United States
> • Arms sales: $23.9 billion
> • Total sales: $25.3 billion
> • Profit: $2.0 billion
> • Employees: 67,000
> 
> 2. Boeing
> • Country: United States
> • Arms sales: $26.9 billion
> • Total sales: $93.4 billion
> • Profit: $8.2 billion
> • Employees: 153,000
> 
> 1. Lockheed Martin Corp.
> • Country: United States
> • Arms sales: $44.9 billion
> • Total sales: $51.0 billion
> • Profit: $2.0 billion
> • Employees: 105,000

 From USA Today in 2013 -- 
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2013/03/10/10-companies-profiting-most-from-war/1970997/

 > 10. United Technologies (UTX) -- aircraft, electronics, engines
 > Arm sales: $11.6 billion, total sales: $58.2 billion
 > Gross profit: $5.3 billion, total workforce: 199,900
 >
 > 9. L-3 Communications (LLL) -- electronics
 > Arm sales: $12.5 billion, total sales: $15.2 billion
 > Gross profit: $956 million, total workforce: 61,000
 >
 > 8. Finmeccanica -- aircraft, artillery, engines, electronics, vehicles 
and missiles
 > Arms sales, $14.6 billion, total sales: $24.1 billion
 > Gross profit: $ -3.2 billion, total workforce: 70,470
 >
 > 7. EADS -- aircraft, electronics, missiles and space
 > Arm sales: $16.4 billion, total sales: $68.3 billion
 > Gross profit: $1.4 billion, total workforce: 133,120
 >
 > 6. Northrop Grumman (NOC) -- aircraft, electronics, missiles, ships, space
 > Arm sales: $21.4 billion, total sales: $26.4 billion
 > Gross profit: $2.1 billion, total workforce: 72,500
 >
 > 5. Raytheon (RTN) -- electronics, missiles
 > Arm sales: $22.5 billion, total sales: $24.9 billion
 > Gross profit: $1.9 billion, total workforce: 71,000
 >
 > 4. General Dynamics (GD) -- artillery, electronics, vehicles, small 
arms, ships
 > Arm sales: $23.8 billion, total sales: $32.7 billion
 > Gross profit: $2.5 billion, total workforce: 95,100
 >
 > 3. BAE Systems -- aircraft, artillery, electronics, vehicles, missiles, 
ships
 > Arm sales: $29.2 billion, total sales: $30.7 billion
 > Gross profit: $2.3 billion, total workforce: 93,500
 >
 > 2. Boeing (BA) -- aircraft, electronics, missiles, space
 > Arm sales: $31.8 billion, total sales: $68.7 billion
 > Gross profit: $4 billion, total workforce: 171,700
 >
 > 1. Lockheed Martin (LMT) -- aircraft, electronics, missiles, space
 > Arm sales:$36.3 billion, total sales: $46.5 billion
 > Gross profit: $2.7 billion, total workforce, 123,000

-J