|
The 'fin de regime'?
An out-of-touch George Bush now presides over a lost foreign war and
a morass of influence peddling
By Eric Margolis
01/08/06 "Toronto
Sun" -- -- WASHINGTON -- China's Taoists
philosophers warned that you become what you hate. We see this
paradox in Washington, where the current administration increasingly
reminds one of the old Soviet Union.
The U.S.S.R. went bankrupt after spending 40% of national income on
the military. President George Bush's administration will spend a
staggering $419.3 billion US on the military this fiscal year. An
additional $130 billion US has been budgeted in 2006 for the
occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan.
That's $10.8 billion a month -- 40% above previous estimates -- and
somewhat more than the monthly cost of the Vietnam War at its
height. Add to this huge sum an estimated $1.5 billion in monthly
secret expenditures in Iraq and Afghanistan by CIA and Pentagon
intelligence.
Astoundingly, U.S. military spending in 2006 will equal the rest of
the world's total combined military expenditures. I just saw an ad
for the new, $115-million F-22 Raptor stealth fighter, trumpeting
how its radar can "intercept communications of insurgents." Using a
$115-million aircraft to listen to cellphone calls by a bunch of
jihadis in Waziristan staggers the imagination.
Meanwhile, Moscow on the Potomac is in an uproar over government
spying on citizens, torture, and what appears to be the mother of
all influence-peddling scandals. Revelations that the super-secret
National Security Agency and FBI have been monitoring domestic as
well as international telecommunications have roused even the
deadheads in Congress and the lapdog media. FBI agents are reportely
spying on such nefarious "terrorists" as vegetarians and animal
rights activists.
Bush (shades of Leonid Brezhnev) claims the right to override any
laws because the U.S. is at war. "Terrorists" ("enemies of the
state" in Soviet talk) threaten the U.S., so anything goes. What
next -- cancelling next fall's elections because of the threat of
the phantom al-Qaida?
Meanwhile, a scandal bursts right out of the last days of the
corrupt Soviet Union. A sinister Republican apparatchik named Jack
Abramoff has admitted dishing out $4.4 million in bribes to
senators, congressmen and political aides. Bigwigs like Bush, House
Speaker Dennis Hastert, Republican grand poobah Tom DeLay,
Bible-thumping crusader Ralph Reed, Hillary Clinton and a bevy of
venal legislators have been implicated in this culture of
corruption.
Abramoff got over $30 million from various Indian tribes promoting
their casino businesses. He and cronies scalped their Indian
clients, pocketing $11 million in kickbacks. Where, one wonders with
awe, did those persecuted native Americans find so much cash?
Republicans (and also some Democrats) are scared silly by the
scandal. Many legislators may be headed for the big house.
All parties that stay in power too long become deeply corrupt. Wise
voters need to kick out incumbents regularly. Longevity in office
ensures bad government. The Republicans, buoyed by faked-up war
fever, became deeply corrupted more quickly than usual.
The Achilles heel
Money is the Achilles heel of democracy. In America, winning and
keeping office demands spending huge sums on TV advertising. The
Washington lobbyists and bagmen who produce millions to fund
politicians have become more powerful than elected legislators. This
is how parasites like Abramoff flourish.
A smell of "fin du regime" hangs over Washington, just as it did
over the last days of decaying Soviet oligarchy. An out-of-touch
leader presides over a lost foreign war and a morass of influence
peddling and bribery, as the secret police struggle to keep a lid on
growing dissent.
margolis@foreigncorrespondent.com
Copyright © 2005, Canoe Inc. All rights reserved.
Translate
this page
(In accordance with Title 17
U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to
those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the
included information for research and educational purposes.
Information Clearing House has no affiliation whatsoever with the
originator of this article nor is Information Clearing House
endorsed or sponsored by the originator.) |
