We're All Getting Neoconned
Former UN weapons inspector calls the neocons parasites "that latch onto democracy until it is no longer convenient." Here's an excerpt from a chilling interview he gave to Larisa Alexandrovna, up on Alternet. Click on the link, read the whole thing:
So you believe the neocons are elitist parasites?Yes, elitism is the perfect term.
Do you consider it localized or global elitism?
The neocons believe in what they think is a noble truth, power of the few, the select few. These are godless people who want power, nothing more. They do not have a country or an allegiance, they have an agenda. These people might hold American passports, but they are not Americans because they do not believe in the Constitution. They believe in the power of the few, not a government for or by the people. They are a few and their agenda is global.
You suggest the Republican Party is simply an organizational host. Is there any vestige left of the host or has the entire party been devoured?
The Republicans have been neutered by the neocons.
Your concept of neocons seems confusing because, using your host/parasite paradigm, they cannot tell between the host and the parasite which invades it.
I know people who have worked for George H. W. Bush, both when he was vice president and president. Bush Sr. called the neocons the 'crazies in the basement.' I think it is dangerous to confuse the two, because there are Americans who love their country and are conservatives who do not support what is going on. Until the host rejects the parasite, it is difficult to separate the two. Brent Scowcroft for example is not a neocon, yet people call him one. Scowcroft worked hard to reign in the 'crazies in the basement,' as did Reagan.
Hi –
Are Americans (finally) waking up ? Seen from over here, Ritter's description (at least in this third part)
of the mess that the USA is in breaks no new ground. Quite a few Europeans (perhapes even the majority, at least in "Old Europe" ?) probably feel as he does.
When he says:
"The American experiment is much too complex to be destroyed by the neocons. In the end, the neocons will lose. It may take ten to twelve more years, and the costs will be horrific, but America will survive. There will be one hell of a mess to clean up, though, after the fall of the neocons."
we can, indeed, ask ourselves if he's not being unduly optimistic. A cursory glance at history demonstrates that all countries and empires rise and fall, and there's no guarantee of continued success – or even existence – for any one.
A quick rereading of Shelley (1792-1822) would not come amiss (one doesn't necessarily have to read his poem with Saddam in mind(smile)):
Ozymandias
I met a traveler from an antique land
Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read,
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed,
And on the pedestal these words appear:
"My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings:
Look upon my works, ye Mighty, and despair!"
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.
Back to Ritter …"ten or twelve years" ? We should be so lucky, if the American experiment survives in the form which we grew up in.
L'Amerloque
L'Amerloque at March 31, 2005 4:04 AM
Amerloque, is it true the french are all killing themselves laughing over the word "neocon"??
Stu "El Inglés" Harris at March 31, 2005 9:28 AM
Hi Stu –
>>Amerloque, is it true the french are all killing
>>themselves laughing over the word "neocon"??
At the beginning they were perplexed, that's for sure (smile). Then they laughed. They prefer "néo-", with the hyphen – "Monsieur Chirac, le néo-gaulliste", for example.)
(For the non-francophones: "con" is the female sex, but is used familiarly as "idiot" or "jerk". "C'est un con !" is, basically, "He's an idiot !" or "he's a jerk !".)
The French usually refer to the "néo-conservateurs à Washington", aka "les faucons à Washington" ("the hawks in Washington"). Condi is called "Madame Faucon" in the press here. (smile)
One spend a lot of time on the "con" epithet. I mean, "faux con" ("fake idiot", which sounds like "faucon") and "vrai con", for example, for Condi (although the French would feminize it with "conne").
L'Amerloque
L'Amerloque at April 1, 2005 8:16 AM
Long before French-bashing was à la mode, a United States megapolis (forgive me for keeping it "incognito") threw in a big celebration honoring the French on Bastille Day. The Mayor of that city wanted to mark the occasion by a gift of three automobile license plates to the French Consul. Naturally the gift was to be a surprise and, yes, surprised was the Consul when he was handed the three plates marked:
"CON 1" "CON 2" "CON 3"
The "gift" was turned downed...
Frania W.
Frania W. at April 1, 2005 10:26 PM
Hi- Frania -
I just knew you were there ...
c'mon, which megalopolis ? (smile) Please, with sugar on it ?
L'Amerloque
L'Amerloque at April 3, 2005 8:59 AM
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