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Feeding the Beast - Violent Extremism
Author: BobR
Date: 06/19/2009 12:31:57
The recent DHS report that warned of possible violence from right-wing extremists created an uproar from the right-wing community. They seemed unable to distinguish between their right-wing views and extreme views. Yet recent violence seems to indicate that the report was accurate. Could the report have been worded differently to get the message across more effectively? Author Chip Berlet thinks so.
I heard an interview with him on NPR last night discussing his new report "Toxic to Democracy: Conspiracy Theories, Demonization, and Scapegoating". He describes the common characteristics of those that commit the violence and the language used to describe them. He also describes how these people are driven to act out in violent ways.
On language, he posits that referring to them as "extremists" is lazy and non-descriptive, and helps to create rifts because it allows for interpretation. We should use words that truly describe the personality of these people: bigot, xenophobe, conspiracy-theorist, religious fundamentalist, paranoid, etc., or some combination thereof. Of course - not all religious fundamentalists go out and shoot doctors, so what else is going on?
He describes a "perfect storm" environment that feeds into the already unbalanced mind, pushing it over the edge. Part of that storm, he avers, is the rhetoric of the right-wing pundits:
During the interview he described "dualism" as an "us -vs- them" positioning and - when combined with scapegoating and demonizing the "them" - leads to viewing the "them" as less than human and doing the devil's work, appeasing the terrorists, or any other sort of threatening activity. Add to that the immediacy of impending doom and you have added a match to gasoline. This pattern can be easily recognized as the sort of daily fodder trotted out by political pundits, as well as by some religious and political leaders.
He also describes how groups and individuals take those "signals", process them, and then act on them. He breaks them down into 3 groups: Cell, Lone Wolf, and Leaderless Cell.
An example of the Lone Wolf would be the man who walked into the Holocaust Museum and opened fire. They are alone and generally paranoid. The main difference between a Cell and a Leaderless Cell is that a cell is attached to a larger group and gets its "orders" and identifies itself with that larger group. The Leaderless Cell may have once belonged to a larger group, but has split from that group and has no real leadership. It gets it's directives from the propaganda it hears, and feeds on its own internal mob mentality.
So what can be done? The first thing would be stop feeding the beast. How can that be done without suppressing 1st amendment rights? Counter-propaganda would be one way. Cells can be infiltrated, although Lone Wolves cannot. While it may be impossible to prosecute pundits for fanning the flames, they can still be blamed and shamed, and outed when they are passing false information to their listeners.
If you would like to listen to the interview, it can be found here. If you would like to read Chip Berlet's report, it can be found here. The report itself goes into historical detail as well, showing how this pattern has been repeated through the ages.
While we individually may not be able to break the pattern, just recognizing it can help us not become a victim of it, nor propagate it ourselves.
I heard an interview with him on NPR last night discussing his new report "Toxic to Democracy: Conspiracy Theories, Demonization, and Scapegoating". He describes the common characteristics of those that commit the violence and the language used to describe them. He also describes how these people are driven to act out in violent ways.
On language, he posits that referring to them as "extremists" is lazy and non-descriptive, and helps to create rifts because it allows for interpretation. We should use words that truly describe the personality of these people: bigot, xenophobe, conspiracy-theorist, religious fundamentalist, paranoid, etc., or some combination thereof. Of course - not all religious fundamentalists go out and shoot doctors, so what else is going on?
He describes a "perfect storm" environment that feeds into the already unbalanced mind, pushing it over the edge. Part of that storm, he avers, is the rhetoric of the right-wing pundits:
"Right-wing pundits demonize scapegoated groups and individuals in our society, implying that it is urgent to stop them from wrecking the nation. Some angry people in the audience already believe conspiracy theories in which the same scapegoats are portrayed as subversive, destructive, or evil. Add in aggressive apocalyptic ideas that suggest time is running out and quick action mandatory and you have a perfect storm of mobilized resentment threatening to rain bigotry and violence across the United States."
Demagogues and conspiracy theorists use the same four “tools of fear,” which Berlet identifies as 1) dualism; 2) scapegoating; 3) demonization; and 4) apocalyptic aggression.
During the interview he described "dualism" as an "us -vs- them" positioning and - when combined with scapegoating and demonizing the "them" - leads to viewing the "them" as less than human and doing the devil's work, appeasing the terrorists, or any other sort of threatening activity. Add to that the immediacy of impending doom and you have added a match to gasoline. This pattern can be easily recognized as the sort of daily fodder trotted out by political pundits, as well as by some religious and political leaders.
He also describes how groups and individuals take those "signals", process them, and then act on them. He breaks them down into 3 groups: Cell, Lone Wolf, and Leaderless Cell.
An example of the Lone Wolf would be the man who walked into the Holocaust Museum and opened fire. They are alone and generally paranoid. The main difference between a Cell and a Leaderless Cell is that a cell is attached to a larger group and gets its "orders" and identifies itself with that larger group. The Leaderless Cell may have once belonged to a larger group, but has split from that group and has no real leadership. It gets it's directives from the propaganda it hears, and feeds on its own internal mob mentality.
So what can be done? The first thing would be stop feeding the beast. How can that be done without suppressing 1st amendment rights? Counter-propaganda would be one way. Cells can be infiltrated, although Lone Wolves cannot. While it may be impossible to prosecute pundits for fanning the flames, they can still be blamed and shamed, and outed when they are passing false information to their listeners.
If you would like to listen to the interview, it can be found here. If you would like to read Chip Berlet's report, it can be found here. The report itself goes into historical detail as well, showing how this pattern has been repeated through the ages.
While we individually may not be able to break the pattern, just recognizing it can help us not become a victim of it, nor propagate it ourselves.
Comments:
Order comments Newest to Oldest Refresh Comments
Comment by 
TriSec on 06/19/2009 12:52:17
TriSec on 06/19/2009 12:52:17
Morning folks!
Listening to the BBC this am....there's an astronomer up in arms about the US launching a mission to "bomb" the moon yesterday.
Funny, nobody had any real problems a generation ago when all those Luna and Surveyor probes were crashing into it.
Sheesh.
Listening to the BBC this am....there's an astronomer up in arms about the US launching a mission to "bomb" the moon yesterday.
Funny, nobody had any real problems a generation ago when all those Luna and Surveyor probes were crashing into it.
Sheesh.
Comment by TriSec on 06/19/2009 13:00:14
TriSec on 06/19/2009 13:00:14
Still getting Websense madness....I brought the ol' laptop home a while ago and put iTunes on it. Then I put on a couple of podcasts.
At work, I'm blocked from the iTunes store entirely, and I am unable to subscribe to any new podcasts. (even manually; I've tried.)
But the podcasts I have in there already update just fine.
At work, I'm blocked from the iTunes store entirely, and I am unable to subscribe to any new podcasts. (even manually; I've tried.)
But the podcasts I have in there already update just fine.
Comment by 
Scoopster on 06/19/2009 13:02:21
Scoopster on 06/19/2009 13:02:21
Morning all & Happy Fridee! :peace:
This rain is not going to be condusive to my hiking around the east side of Providence looking for apartments..
This rain is not going to be condusive to my hiking around the east side of Providence looking for apartments..
Comment by 
velveeta jones on 06/19/2009 13:05:29
velveeta jones on 06/19/2009 13:05:29
Interesting blog BobR. I think I will read the report. I agree that it's just lazy (and not really helpful) to label someone as an "extremist"; really that could describe so many people/groups.
Comment by 
wickedpam on 06/19/2009 13:10:01
wickedpam on 06/19/2009 13:10:01
Morning :hug:
Having a chili cook off at work - not sure how much I'll be around so mostly in
mode :D
Having a chili cook off at work - not sure how much I'll be around so mostly in
mode :D
Comment by 
Raine on 06/19/2009 13:15:36
Raine on 06/19/2009 13:15:36
Good Morning!
Comment by TriSec on 06/19/2009 13:18:39
TriSec on 06/19/2009 13:18:39
With my podcasts working, it's on to Keith!
More rain overhead.
It sure feels like 40 days.
Where's the rainbow, dude?
See?
More rain overhead.
It sure feels like 40 days.
Where's the rainbow, dude?
See?
Comment by Scoopster on 06/19/2009 13:28:01
Scoopster on 06/19/2009 13:28:01
Oooh someone brought in bagels!
Not enough money for cream cheese though so the term being thrown around is "bagels commando"
Not enough money for cream cheese though so the term being thrown around is "bagels commando"
Comment by TriSec on 06/19/2009 13:28:21
TriSec on 06/19/2009 13:28:21
New England moderator to Bob, New England moderator to Bob, over?
I need you on IM, please.
I need you on IM, please.
Comment by velveeta jones on 06/19/2009 13:34:02
pffffftttt!
I think he may just want to see his name in boldface again.
velveeta jones on 06/19/2009 13:34:02
Quote by Scoopster:
Well now we're so glad to have this guy's blessing..
pffffftttt!
I think he may just want to see his name in boldface again.
Comment by Scoopster on 06/19/2009 13:42:34
Scoopster on 06/19/2009 13:42:34
HuffPo's ongoing live blog on Iran - props to them for keeping this going with regular updates now for six days.
It's gonna be an interesting day.. Khameni's trying to convince people the election was fair and Ahmadinejad won big, but is badmouthing him and defending accusations he made against Rafsanjani, and telling the protestors to go home and shut up or else.
However, it is Friday which is the Muslim holy day, so it's possible that there may be some break in the protests for a short time.
It's gonna be an interesting day.. Khameni's trying to convince people the election was fair and Ahmadinejad won big, but is badmouthing him and defending accusations he made against Rafsanjani, and telling the protestors to go home and shut up or else.
However, it is Friday which is the Muslim holy day, so it's possible that there may be some break in the protests for a short time.
Comment by Raine on 06/19/2009 13:44:21
Raine on 06/19/2009 13:44:21
A waxwork model of President Obama is equipped with a fly swat at Madame Tussauds waxworks museum in central London
:rofl:
:rofl:
Comment by Raine on 06/19/2009 13:51:36
Mousavi has called for international Peaceful day of protest on Sunday. This isn't going away.
Raine on 06/19/2009 13:51:36
Quote by Scoopster:
HuffPo's ongoing live blog on Iran - props to them for keeping this going with regular updates now for six days.
It's gonna be an interesting day.. Khameni's trying to convince people the election was fair and Ahmadinejad won big, but is badmouthing him and defending accusations he made against Rafsanjani, and telling the protestors to go home and shut up or else.
However, it is Friday which is the Muslim holy day, so it's possible that there may be some break in the protests for a short time.
Comment by wickedpam on 06/19/2009 13:51:48
wickedpam on 06/19/2009 13:51:48
Looks like I get to spend most of my day outside - should be interesting - gonna have internet withdrawls though
Comment by Raine on 06/19/2009 13:58:32
TRMS.. :::Nice!:::
Raine on 06/19/2009 13:58:32
Quote by wickedpam:
Looks like I get to spend most of my day outside - should be interesting - gonna have internet withdrawls though
TRMS.. :::Nice!:::
Comment by wickedpam on 06/19/2009 14:05:49
TRMS?
wickedpam on 06/19/2009 14:05:49
Quote by Raine:Quote by wickedpam:
Looks like I get to spend most of my day outside - should be interesting - gonna have internet withdrawls though
TRMS.. :::Nice!:::
TRMS?
Comment by Raine on 06/19/2009 14:09:13
The Rachel Maddow Show.... :D
Raine on 06/19/2009 14:09:13
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:Quote by wickedpam:
Looks like I get to spend most of my day outside - should be interesting - gonna have internet withdrawls though
TRMS.. :::Nice!:::
TRMS?
Comment by Raine on 06/19/2009 14:09:35
Raine on 06/19/2009 14:09:35
Guh... not a big fan of John King....
Comment by wickedpam on 06/19/2009 14:10:18
DOH!
wickedpam on 06/19/2009 14:10:18
Quote by Raine:The Rachel Maddow Show.... :DQuote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:Quote by wickedpam:
Looks like I get to spend most of my day outside - should be interesting - gonna have internet withdrawls though
TRMS.. :::Nice!:::
TRMS?
DOH!
Comment by velveeta jones on 06/19/2009 14:16:15
velveeta jones on 06/19/2009 14:16:15
YES! YES. WHY THE HELL IS SINGLE PAYER NOT ON THE EFFING TABLE!!!!!
Comment by 
livingonli on 06/19/2009 14:20:14
livingonli on 06/19/2009 14:20:14
Good morning everyone. 
So, what's up?
So, what's up?
Comment by TriSec on 06/19/2009 14:20:35
TriSec on 06/19/2009 14:20:35
From Blue Mass Group:
(http://www.bluemassgroup.com/diary/16011/comment-of-the-day)
Tonight, it's from JimC on health care:
Here's what I don't get
Every Democratic candidate in 2008, from Sara Orozco to Barack Obama, ran (in part) on changing healthcare.
As it happened, after a mountain of work and a galaxy of money, we retained both houses of Congress and won the presidency too.
So why are we having a debate with the GOP, which ran on not changing healthcare? Why have we already taken single payer off the table?
Why do we have to call reps? We can pass this without a single Republican vote.
WHY?
Are you really telling me every Democratic campaign last year -- every Democratic campaign -- meant nothing at all? Because that's what I'm hearing.
... and I would add something else: Everyone in power -- the President, Congresscritters, all these Dems -- talk about this year as a "historic opportunity" for health care. Like, if we don't get it done this year, whoops, it will have passed away.
Why?
Will the problem have been solved - making the public fat and happy? Does Congress only meet every 15 years?
What am I missing?
(http://www.bluemassgroup.com/diary/16011/comment-of-the-day)
Tonight, it's from JimC on health care:
Here's what I don't get
Every Democratic candidate in 2008, from Sara Orozco to Barack Obama, ran (in part) on changing healthcare.
As it happened, after a mountain of work and a galaxy of money, we retained both houses of Congress and won the presidency too.
So why are we having a debate with the GOP, which ran on not changing healthcare? Why have we already taken single payer off the table?
Why do we have to call reps? We can pass this without a single Republican vote.
WHY?
Are you really telling me every Democratic campaign last year -- every Democratic campaign -- meant nothing at all? Because that's what I'm hearing.
... and I would add something else: Everyone in power -- the President, Congresscritters, all these Dems -- talk about this year as a "historic opportunity" for health care. Like, if we don't get it done this year, whoops, it will have passed away.
Why?
Will the problem have been solved - making the public fat and happy? Does Congress only meet every 15 years?
What am I missing?
Comment by wickedpam on 06/19/2009 14:23:51
*looks at clock* :thud:
your early this morning
:hug:
wickedpam on 06/19/2009 14:23:51
Quote by livingonli:
Good morning everyone.
So, what's up?
*looks at clock* :thud:
your early this morning
:hug:
Comment by livingonli on 06/19/2009 14:25:02
Second that.
livingonli on 06/19/2009 14:25:02
Quote by velveeta jones:
YES! YES. WHY THE HELL IS SINGLE PAYER NOT ON THE EFFING TABLE!!!!!
Second that.
Comment by Scoopster on 06/19/2009 14:25:19
Was listening to NPR yesterday and Bob Dole was asked about this, to which he basically said that if it's not done right away it'll get buried under election campaigns - next year Congress will be in the swing, then the year after that the 2012 presidential campaign season will probably kick into gear (probably not as early as it did last time, but still more than a year before the election). So the idea is to keep everyone focused & working on this now before they get distracted with fundraising and campaigning and jockeying for positions.
Scoopster on 06/19/2009 14:25:19
Quote by TriSec:
From Blue Mass Group:
*snip*
... and I would add something else: Everyone in power -- the President, Congresscritters, all these Dems -- talk about this year as a "historic opportunity" for health care. Like, if we don't get it done this year, whoops, it will have passed away.
Why?
Will the problem have been solved - making the public fat and happy? Does Congress only meet every 15 years?
What am I missing?
Was listening to NPR yesterday and Bob Dole was asked about this, to which he basically said that if it's not done right away it'll get buried under election campaigns - next year Congress will be in the swing, then the year after that the 2012 presidential campaign season will probably kick into gear (probably not as early as it did last time, but still more than a year before the election). So the idea is to keep everyone focused & working on this now before they get distracted with fundraising and campaigning and jockeying for positions.
Comment by livingonli on 06/19/2009 14:26:23
I'm going to try and head to a comic book store today to sell a few books and hope I get some money that I need.
livingonli on 06/19/2009 14:26:23
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by livingonli:
Good morning everyone.
So, what's up?
*looks at clock* :thud:
your early this morning
:hug:
I'm going to try and head to a comic book store today to sell a few books and hope I get some money that I need.
Comment by wickedpam on 06/19/2009 14:28:20
expect not to get much, but be surprised if you receive more - always the best way to go, you don't get disappointed then :)
wickedpam on 06/19/2009 14:28:20
Quote by livingonli:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by livingonli:
Good morning everyone.
So, what's up?
*looks at clock* :thud:
your early this morning
:hug:
I'm going to try and head to a comic book store today to sell a few books and hope I get some money that I need.
expect not to get much, but be surprised if you receive more - always the best way to go, you don't get disappointed then :)
Comment by livingonli on 06/19/2009 14:31:40
Especially since the market for old comics has collapsed the same way it has for baseball cards.
livingonli on 06/19/2009 14:31:40
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by livingonli:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by livingonli:
Good morning everyone.
So, what's up?
*looks at clock* :thud:
your early this morning
:hug:
I'm going to try and head to a comic book store today to sell a few books and hope I get some money that I need.
expect not to get much, but be surprised if you receive more - always the best way to go, you don't get disappointed then :)
Especially since the market for old comics has collapsed the same way it has for baseball cards.
Comment by Scoopster on 06/19/2009 14:35:04
Scoopster on 06/19/2009 14:35:04
Sessions threatens delay in confirmation hearings..
Ya know it's funny.. he can threaten all he wants but he can't actually make the decision to delay anything.
Ya know it's funny.. he can threaten all he wants but he can't actually make the decision to delay anything.
Comment by wickedpam on 06/19/2009 14:35:53
wickedpam on 06/19/2009 14:35:53
Don't worry every little bit you get adds to your savings account :)
Okay off to help set up - I'll check in when I can :D
Okay off to help set up - I'll check in when I can :D
Comment by Raine on 06/19/2009 14:36:42
Raine on 06/19/2009 14:36:42
:rofl: Momma:" I don't know Jim, I can't get excited about apathy."
Comment by livingonli on 06/19/2009 14:39:56
livingonli on 06/19/2009 14:39:56
Have fun with the chili, Mala.
Comment by 
BobR on 06/19/2009 14:42:46
would eBay be a better route? I dunno - just wondering...
BobR on 06/19/2009 14:42:46
Quote by livingonli:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by livingonli:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by livingonli:
Good morning everyone.
So, what's up?
*looks at clock* :thud:
your early this morning
:hug:
I'm going to try and head to a comic book store today to sell a few books and hope I get some money that I need.
expect not to get much, but be surprised if you receive more - always the best way to go, you don't get disappointed then :)
Especially since the market for old comics has collapsed the same way it has for baseball cards.
would eBay be a better route? I dunno - just wondering...
Comment by Scoopster on 06/19/2009 14:50:14
Scoopster on 06/19/2009 14:50:14
Comment by Raine on 06/19/2009 14:59:06
Raine on 06/19/2009 14:59:06
Oh Jim. I agree. Stupid argument.
Comment by Raine on 06/19/2009 15:02:05
Raine on 06/19/2009 15:02:05
Why must wingers distill a debate down to silly simplistic drivel?
Comment by livingonli on 06/19/2009 15:19:27
If I had the time I would eBay, but since I will probably be moving soon my goal is to have less stuff to take with me when I move. It's more a downsizing my life thing.
livingonli on 06/19/2009 15:19:27
Quote by BobR:Quote by livingonli:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by livingonli:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by livingonli:
Good morning everyone.
So, what's up?
*looks at clock* :thud:
your early this morning
:hug:
I'm going to try and head to a comic book store today to sell a few books and hope I get some money that I need.
expect not to get much, but be surprised if you receive more - always the best way to go, you don't get disappointed then :)
Especially since the market for old comics has collapsed the same way it has for baseball cards.
would eBay be a better route? I dunno - just wondering...
If I had the time I would eBay, but since I will probably be moving soon my goal is to have less stuff to take with me when I move. It's more a downsizing my life thing.
Comment by livingonli on 06/19/2009 15:31:06
livingonli on 06/19/2009 15:31:06
Heading out to Smithtown to see if I get some money. Wish me luck.
Comment by Scoopster on 06/19/2009 15:41:11
Scoopster on 06/19/2009 15:41:11
Client asks us if we can post animated graphic advertising.
We reply yes - 3-4 frames max, GIF or Flash.
Client sends us three static images instead of one animated ad.
We reply yes - 3-4 frames max, GIF or Flash.
Client sends us three static images instead of one animated ad.
Comment by 
Will in Chicago on 06/19/2009 16:00:51
Will in Chicago on 06/19/2009 16:00:51
Good morning, bloggers! Excellent post, BobR!
I heard part of the interview and I fear that the hateful rhetoric will rise.
I heard part of the interview and I fear that the hateful rhetoric will rise.
Comment by TriSec on 06/19/2009 16:29:07
TriSec on 06/19/2009 16:29:07
Close enough.
Lunch awaits us.
Lunch awaits us, indeed.
Lunch awaits us.
Lunch awaits us, indeed.
Comment by Raine on 06/19/2009 16:43:39
Say hi to the Bull!
Raine on 06/19/2009 16:43:39
Quote by livingonli:
Heading out to Smithtown to see if I get some money. Wish me luck.
Say hi to the Bull!
Comment by Scoopster on 06/19/2009 18:06:59
Scoopster on 06/19/2009 18:06:59
:coffee2:
workworkworkcoffeework
workworkworkcoffeework
Comment by TriSec on 06/19/2009 18:36:52
TriSec on 06/19/2009 18:36:52
Methinks this isn't going to end well. (from the Guardian UK):
Tension was growing in the Pacific today as the US navy prepared to intercept a North Korean cargo ship suspected of carrying weapons in defiance of a United Nations ban.
The US navy has been tracking the Kang Nam since its left a North Korean port on Wednesday.
It would be the first ship to be intercepted since the UN last week imposed sanctions on North Korea as punishment for conducting an underground nuclear test last month. The sanctions ban the import and export of nuclear material, missiles and all other weapons other than small arms.
A USS destroyer, the John McCain (named after the father of the Republican senator, who was an admiral), was awaiting orders to intercept the ship off the Chinese coast.
The UN sanctions only allow the US to hail a North Korean ship and demand to be allowed to conduct a search, but not forcibly board it. North Korea has said a forcible search would be regarded as an act of war.
Reflecting heightened tension, the US today began moving radar systems and ground-to-air missiles to Hawaii. The Pentagon said it fears that Pyongyang could test-fire an intercontinental missile in the direction of Hawaii over the next few weeks in retaliation for the UN sanctions.
US officials designated the Kang Nam as being of "special interest" soon after it left port.
If the North Koreans refuse to allow a US crew to search the ship, the US could order it into the nearest port. Failing that, the USS John McCain could closely follow the ship until it reaches a port. The US would then be entitled to demand, under the UN sanctions agreement, that that country inspect the ship.
Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff, told reporters at the Pentagon yesterday: "Without going into specific details, clearly we intend to vigorously enforce the United Nations security council resolution."
Tension was growing in the Pacific today as the US navy prepared to intercept a North Korean cargo ship suspected of carrying weapons in defiance of a United Nations ban.
The US navy has been tracking the Kang Nam since its left a North Korean port on Wednesday.
It would be the first ship to be intercepted since the UN last week imposed sanctions on North Korea as punishment for conducting an underground nuclear test last month. The sanctions ban the import and export of nuclear material, missiles and all other weapons other than small arms.
A USS destroyer, the John McCain (named after the father of the Republican senator, who was an admiral), was awaiting orders to intercept the ship off the Chinese coast.
The UN sanctions only allow the US to hail a North Korean ship and demand to be allowed to conduct a search, but not forcibly board it. North Korea has said a forcible search would be regarded as an act of war.
Reflecting heightened tension, the US today began moving radar systems and ground-to-air missiles to Hawaii. The Pentagon said it fears that Pyongyang could test-fire an intercontinental missile in the direction of Hawaii over the next few weeks in retaliation for the UN sanctions.
US officials designated the Kang Nam as being of "special interest" soon after it left port.
If the North Koreans refuse to allow a US crew to search the ship, the US could order it into the nearest port. Failing that, the USS John McCain could closely follow the ship until it reaches a port. The US would then be entitled to demand, under the UN sanctions agreement, that that country inspect the ship.
Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff, told reporters at the Pentagon yesterday: "Without going into specific details, clearly we intend to vigorously enforce the United Nations security council resolution."
Comment by Scoopster on 06/19/2009 19:04:24
Scoopster on 06/19/2009 19:04:24
Comment by Raine on 06/19/2009 19:06:33
Raine on 06/19/2009 19:06:33
Reposting this From DU:
CALL CALL CALL...
Whitehouse.gov web site
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461
The number in the bold is the number that the person was actually able to talk to someone.
CALL CALL CALL!!!
I Just Called The White House Comment Line And Was On For About 4 Minutes With ......
a gentleman that listened carefully; asked questions and recorded my comments. I told him I was in support of a 'public option' in healthcare reform and that the President should sign no bill that contained less. He asked me to describe what my definition was of a public option. I told him - a government sponsored health insurance that would provide competition to the current private insurers that would allow me to choose between plans. One that would cause the private insurers to re-evaluate the way they do business and perhaps reduce their rates and imposing restrictions on use and pre-existing conditions. I mentioned that competition is very American and that the same people that called for GM & Chrysler to go belly up because they weren't competitive are the same people now that want to prohibit competition in healthcare. I mentioned to him that I just returned from D.C. and was up on Capitol Hill and that there is selective listening by our Representatives there. I told him I was told that the American people are against a public option and when I probed as to who they were hearing this from - I was told by Congressional aides that Obama was booed by the AMA. Well - they were listening only to the Doc's.
I told him that I have my own business and I pay $12,000 per year for Blue Cross/Blue Shield plan that has a $3000 deductible. I told him I was frightened to use my insurance because I was worried that at a later date the 'pre-existing condition' would rear its ugly head. I indicated that I wouldn't mind paying more in taxes if we had a 'public option' - because in the long run I would be better served and would probably save money.
I indicated to him that I spoke with some Canadians a couple of weeks ago here in Chicago that love their plan up in Canada. I told him they were surprised that the U.S. didn't have a similar plan and that they felt sorry for us. I indicated that I realize that most likely at this time a 'single payer' plan is not realistic and that this is why I'm calling in support of the inclusion of a 'public option' in the healthcare reform package.
The gentleman I spoke with at the WH was very polite. Very inquisitive. Very complementary - saying that my comments were well thought out and articulate. He thanked me and said he would get this info to the President.
I was initially put on hold - but he picked up and answered my call in about 2 minutes. The phone line is busy. When I initially called - I got a busy signal - then I just used my redial function to continue calling until I got through. I think I might have had to do that about 7 times before it rang through.
Please - Please - Please ------ Call the W.H. and voice your opinions. Not only is it the right thing to do - it will make you feel good that you did. Tell your friends and family to do the same.
CALL CALL CALL...
Whitehouse.gov web site
Comments: 202-456-1111
Switchboard: 202-456-1414
FAX: 202-456-2461
The number in the bold is the number that the person was actually able to talk to someone.
CALL CALL CALL!!!