Link to an article by Kevin Murphy:
Tag: War
Shamus Cooke – History Blinded by Anti Socialism
It never ceases to amuse me how the insight of philosophy and psychoanalysis that ideology determines what is or is not a “fact” is proven again and again. As Rex Butler put it,
“in the analysis of ideology, it is not simply a matter of seeing which account of reality best matches the ‘facts’, with the one that is closest being the least biased and therefore the best. As soon as the facts are determined, we have already — whether we know it or not — made our choice; we are already within one ideological system or another. The real dispute has already taken place over what is to count as the facts, which facts are relevant, and so on.”
Lenin also wrote (in What Is to be Done?):
“the only choice is — either bourgeois or socialist ideology. There is no middle course (for mankind has not created a ‘third’ ideology, and, moreover, in a society torn by class antagonisms there can never be a non-class or an above-class ideology).”
Along these lines, Shamus Cooke has reviewed Ken Burns & Lynn Novick‘s mini-series The Vietnam War (2017):
“History Blinded by Anti Socialism: Ken Burns’ Vietnam”
The general tone of Cooke’s criticism reflects this statement by Malcolm X:
“If you’re not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing.”
Bonus quote:
“How close we could look into a bright future should two, three or many Vietnams flourish throughout the world with their share of deaths and their immense tragedies, their everyday heroism and their repeated blows against imperialism, impelled to disperse its forces under the sudden attack and the increasing hatred of all peoples of the world!”
Che Guevara, “Message to the Tricontinental,” April 16, 1967
Bonus links: The Battle of Chile and “A Victory for Historical Accuracy and the Peace Movement: Not One Emmy for Ken Burns and ‘The Vietnam War'” and “It’s a Fact: Supreme Court Errors Aren’t Hard to Find” (this article engages in a certain kind of criticism that is largely blind to the issue Butler described)
Ike Nahem – Our Che
Link to an article about Ernesto “Che” Guevara by Ike Nahem:
Jim Kavanagh – The Rifle on the Wall
Link to an article by Jim Kavanagh:
“The Rifle on the Wall: A Left Argument for Gun Rights (Reprise)”
This is the best article I have yet encountered about gun rights vs. gun control.
William Blum – Cold War Then. Cold War Now.
Link to an article by William Blum:
Lars Schall – The CIA: 70 Years of Organized Crime
Link to an interview of Douglas Valentine by Lars Schall:
“The CIA: 70 Years of Organized Crime”
Bonus links: “Operation Paperclip: Nazi Science Heads West” and The Secret Team
TASS – A Terrible Ghost
Link to the TASS window poster:
René Rojas & Jonah Walters – Revolt of the Elites
Link to a review by René Rojas and Jonah Walters of Patricio Guzmán’s documentary The Battle of Chile:
Bonus link: “The Coup in Chile”
Nicolas Lalaguna – War on Drugs
Paul Le Blanc – The Kornilov Coup
Link to an article by Paul Le Blanc: