We’ve lived so long under the spell of hierarchy—from god-kings to feudal lords to party bosses—that only recently have we awakened to see not only that “regular” citizens have the capacity for self-governance, but that without their engagement our huge global crises cannot be addressed. The changes needed for human society simply to survive, let alone thrive, are so profound that the only way we will move toward them is if we ourselves, regular citizens, feel meaningful ownership of solutions through direct engagement. Our problems are too big, interrelated, and pervasive to yield to directives from on high.
—Frances Moore Lappé, excerpt from Time for Progressives to Grow Up

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Elite Intrigues and Military Purges: It’s Not About Sex, Stupid!

Click here to access article by Prof. James Petras from Global Research

This retired sociologist and political affairs analyst looks at the latest preposterous media tale involving CIA director Petraeus and General John Allen, Supreme Commander of US troops in Afghanistan, and offers a more plausible explanation for these startling events. 
The purge of General Petraeus and humiliation of General Allen is a victory for the civilian militarists who are unconditional supporters of Israel and therefore oppose any opening to ‘moderate’ Islamist regimes. They want a long-term and expanded US military presence in Afghanistan and elsewhere.
This liberal professor also suggests that there is a profound crisis developing in our ruling class--although I don't think he would express it that way--reflected in these internecine power struggles.