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Fresh-Faced Honesty

From Berkeley’s own Jimmy Olson. Kenneth Thiesen at the Daily Planet on why he doesn’t support the troops. 

In the recent political battle around the Marine recruiting station in Berkeley there has been much confusion around the concept or slogan of “supporting the troops,” but opposing the unjust wars of the Bush regime. Many who oppose the Bush regime wars also say they “support the troops.” Let me say it straight out—I do not support the troops and neither should you. It is objectively impossible to support the troops of the imperialist military forces of the U.S. and at the same time oppose the wars in which they fight.

The United States has over 700 military bases or sites located in over 130 foreign countries. The hundreds of thousands of troops stationed in these countries are not there to preserve or foster freedom and democracy as the Bush regime would like to claim, but to maintain U.S. imperialist domination of the world. The United States now spends more on its military than all the other nations of the world combined.

If you “support the troops” in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the other more than 100 countries in which they are located, you also objectively support U.S. hegemony in the world.

Well, yeah. I can’t agree entirely with Thiesen’s characterizations, but I have to say, given a choice between efforts by the likes of Saddam and Iran to dominate the world’s oil supplies; Osama bin Laden’s campaign to restore the Caliphate;  the PRC’s bid to control the Pacific and expand its influence in the Middle East and Africa; and the former Soviet Union’s global medding as it seeks to restore its superpower role, U.S. hegemony works for me.

Thiesen, in establishing the U.S. military’s war criminality and urging an end to recruiting, doesn’t say who he would like to defend the United States and the rest of the free world. Given the Gotham affiliation, I’d guess Superman, except that the hero in tights frequently resorted to violence and was sloppy in his observance of the rights of evildoers. Nothing on how he feels about the prospects, once recruitment-free attrition eliminates the last vestiges of U.S. warmongering, of Berkeley babes being burkha’d, Berkeley boys beheaded, etc.   

Interesting side note.  He cites Marine Major General Smedley Butler bemoaning his 33 years as “a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism.”  Unclear whether the principled Butler ever gave back any of his ill-gotten pay. He campaigned heavily for pacifism in the run-up to World War II but died in 1940. Would have been interesting to see if World War II, the Cold War, the rise of Islamic extremism might have got him over his bitterness, but there’s no reason to think so, given the number of fellow travellers today who think the threats we face have been greatly exaggerated. 

Malkin re threats to U.S. recruiters.

Topics: America, military, moronocy, peaceniks

  Posted by Jules Crittenden at 9:24 am on Thursday, March 13, 2008

13 Responses to “Fresh-Faced Honesty”

1. The_Real_JeffS Says:
   March 13th, 2008 at 9:34 am

   Thiesen, in establishing the U.S. military’s war criminality and urging an end to recruiting, doesn’t say who he would like to defend the United States and the rest of the free world.

   I’d say that Thiesen is so wracked by (pseudo-) guilt that he would prefer that every member of western civilian commit suicide to atone for what he views as our sins.

2. A NEWT ONE Says:
   March 13th, 2008 at 10:20 am

   FINALLY: We Have Obtained The Truth

   From the Berkeley Daily Planet, penned by a sniveling socialist cretin - an anti-Americanist - all emphasis added is my own…the piece is written by Kenneth Thiesen, an organizer with the World Can’t Wait! Drive Out the Bush Regime!

3.   TTLF: Another Lefty Speaks The Truth As They See It About The Troops — Pirate’s Cove Says:
   March 13th, 2008 at 10:24 am

   [...] Jules Crittenden: Thiesen, in establishing the U.S. military’s war criminality and urging an end to recruiting, doesn’t say who he would like to defend the United States and the rest of the free world. Given the Gotham affiliation, I’d guess Superman…… [...]

4. mwl Says:
   March 13th, 2008 at 11:32 am

   That’s one well-trained parrot.

5. Dave Surls Says:
   March 13th, 2008 at 11:40 am

   ‘If you “support the troops” in Iraq, Afghanistan, and the other more than 100 countries in which they are located, you also objectively support U.S. hegemony in the world.’

   Actually, what I support is making war on terrorists and state sponsors of terrorism. I’d also support making war on American left wing traitors if anyone is up for it.

   For example, I think a punitive expedition into Berkeley and Oakland to root out trash like Thiesen would make hell a sense.

   I’m not joking, btw.

6. Dave Surls Says:
   March 13th, 2008 at 11:47 am

   ‘He cites Marine Major General Smedley Butler bemoaning his 33 years as “a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism.”’

   Butler appears to have been quite content with his gangster role, right up until he was passed over as Marine Corps Commandant, at which point he suddenly discovered he’d been a tool of the wicked capitalists.

   Mosty similar figure to Butler in U.S. history is another unquestionably brave and capable general officer: Benedict Arnold.

7. SoldiersDad Says:
   March 13th, 2008 at 1:08 pm

   One must remember that the Socialist Movement had some real wheels in 1933. The depression convinced more than a few people that Capitalism was a failed economic model.

   The reality is that the US economy is no longer based on Capitalism anyway. The cost of the “Means of Production” for all but a very few industries is within the reach of most Americans…last I checked…there were 20 million businesses in the US. The main Socialist/Communist argument…that the means of production should be owned by the workers is a reality for millions of Americans…

8. RebeccaH Says:
   March 13th, 2008 at 1:23 pm

   The reality is, Bush will be president until he hands over the keys in January ‘09, all orderly and legal-like. Sucks to be a romantic Che wannabe revolutionary warrior/failure, don’t it, Thiesen?

9. Texas Turkey Says:
   March 13th, 2008 at 2:04 pm

   Perhaps this dingbat should comparatively look at all the countries where the US has had a military presence and contrast with their immediate neighbours over the last …say… 40 years.

   Beer and BMWs in West Berlin versus Vaseline and a wall in the East
   TVs and Karaoke bars in Seoul versus synchronized dancing, weird personality cults and eating dirt in NOKO.
   Sony’s, Toyotas and geisha girls in Yokohama versus the great purge, death marches, blue pyjamas and bicycles in China (until they wised up of course)

   and the list goes on …

   Seems to me the imperialistic hedgemony wins hands down.

   putz.

10. StephenBainbridge.com Says:
    March 13th, 2008 at 2:09 pm

    On the Question of American Hegemony

    Kenneth Thiesen of, it will not surprise you, Berkeley California offers up a screed in which he opines: Let me say it straight out—I do not support the troops and neither should you. It is objectively impossible to support the troops of the impe…

11. tanstaafl Says:
    March 13th, 2008 at 2:52 pm

    The guy with the beard and all the protest buttons is probably K. Thiesen

    Berzerkley In The Full

12. Vanguard of the Commentariat Says:
    March 13th, 2008 at 8:58 pm

    So move away asshole.

    Oh, and for the right to say whatever half baked inanity that pops in your pointed little head whenever you want without fear of government retribution, you’re fucking welcome.

    Sorry folks, foul mood tonite with regards to lefty ingrates, especially the “Reverend” Jeremiah Wright.

13. saltydog Says:
    March 14th, 2008 at 12:03 am

    No apology necessary,, V of the C. I’ve begun to realize that I live in an entirely different universe than these people.

    Of course the boy is a parrot. He’s in school. And the Progressive Movement that started in the late 1800s, reached it’s stride in the 30s based on faulty information and rotten Marxist philosophy, has now reached a point where the moral philosophy thus espoused is thoroughly integrated into the American mind — to the point where even many conservatives don’t realize how much of it they hold as truth.

    Jefferson called the political philosophy of John Locke to be a part of the American mind. That was a philosophy of Individualism and was based on the individual’s natural right to Life, Liberty, Property, and the Pursuit of Happiness, which was to be protected by the government, not abrogated and perverted. Isn’t it an amazing contrast?

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