Today, I appeared on the Austin Rhodes Radio Show (the most popular talk radio show in the metro area) out of Augusta, Georgia and debated the host on the issues of Julian Assange and WikiLeaks, secession and the US Empire. The mainstream-conservative host was somewhat sympathetic to my point of view on some of this but somehow denied that the US is an empire.
Click here for the audio (8.50 minutes)
You were awesome! I’m so proud of you!
Thank you, Ginny! I certainly appreciate it.
That was a great job Michael. If given more time, how would you explain the use of the word “empire” for the hundreds of seemingly innocuous bases we have around the world?
I agree of course that the US is an empire, simply because the South is occupied territory, along with the Philippines, Guam, Iraq, Afghanistan, etc. However, it is harder to make the distinction with other bases that aren’t so obvious, like Australia.
I would say that our bases and our presence in any country above and beyond a simple embassy constitutes an imperial force because what we are doing is projecting our force onto the people of that country, which affects their local politics. It does so very noticeably in places like South Korea, but it still does it, maybe not so noticeably, in Australia.
Tom, thanks. As far as the word “Empire” I would first talk about the many bases in Irag (about 40, I do believe) and Afghanistan. If we discount the Middle East then we can get to the countries the US still occupies left over from WWII – Germany, Japan, Italy, etc. Then there are the 30,000 troops in Korea. I think from these examples the idea of “empire” would emerge.
Way to hit em’ with facts and logic, Michael. I think you really left him behind when you started talking about securing our own boarders and sovereignty rather than meddling in the affairs of other countries. There’s to much violence in Mexico, and Texans, Arizonans and others have died.Yet our wonderful overlords decide it’s more important to give Middle Easterners a “democracy”, and they don’t care what type of gov’t they live under! That is blatantly obvious. Neo Cons are in denial, they know the U.S is an empire, it controls more territories and has conquered more people than Nazi Germany. They just love war and Facism so much.
LMAO!!! “Dark forces”?? This host doesnt want to see the full picture. France didnt “interfere”; they helped the Colonists, then they left. France didnt put military bases in all the 13 States after the war. Yet after the US helped France repel the Nazis, the US stayed there. Everywhere the US puts its forces to “help” the population it stays there and never leaves. Thats an empire.
I dont know who he thinks “pushes” around the United States. I guess anyone who doesnt listen to the “big bully” Feds is pushing around the “poor, helpless” USA. I guess spending more money on the military than all the countries on Earth combined isnt enough. People like this host should just go move into a bunker and wait for all the “dark forces” to come get him. lol. Great interview, too bad he didnt let you plug the site.
Great job on the call in. the guy is foolish. You dont even really have to point to the military bases or the ocupations of Mexican Territory (Arizona, Texas, New Mexico and Califorina). Iraq, Afghanistan.. Just simply look at how our goverment acts towards other countries that we consider “Axis”. We act like they should answer to us or something. We speak with language that we are the police of the world and act as if somebody should explain themselves to our goverment. Its silly. The U.S. will be the reason why Iran may cause another war. Even a guy named Bob Baer who is a former CIA officer who wrote the book. “Dealing With The New Iranian Superpower” says that we should be talking to Iran and looking to be friends. not just Iran but being friendly with all countries and making trade. Not trying to be powerful gits. But thats a whole another subject away from what we was talking about it seems. But anyhow, like I said before just look at the language we use at other countries. It plainly shows that we are a Empire or act as a Empire.
I like also how you mentioned its not us. its the Feds and the White House who deal in all this. There is many Americans who do not care what is going on in Iran and Iraq or Afghanistan. Even it shows in our soldiers.