Status Updates From Addicted to War: Why the U....

Talks about the anti movement. In Vietnam it was derided as Vietnam syndrome. However it eventually lead to public opinion shifting so much that that they had to withdraw. The. 1991 war. In Feb. 15, 2003 the largest international anti-war demonstration, but tye media kept pushing the pro war line.

Militarism gains support through the media, which is owned by corporations with interests in the Military INdistrial complex. When the government and MIC need support for a war, the media will use propaganda to gain public support, making everything seem dire and painting the "enemy" in the worst possible light.

Wars also cost civil liberties, with agencies spying on citizens in the name of fighting terrorism. More veterans commit suicide than are killed in war. There are deaths even outside of combat in training exercised. It usually the poor who can't afford to go to college who end up going to war. Those who start the wars aren't the ones to see it.

The cost of War. Give the numbers of how much is spent on war (and it's even more now). Bush administration admitted that war would lead to retaliation and more terrorism. Book makes some misleading claims. Says that there is no money spent on healthcare (this is false and in fact it Wlefare is along with military one of the top items). Claim wages are going down, they aren't but rent is going up faster.

Really good so far! A very easy way to learn more about the US imperial superpower

The war profiteers. It talks about D. Cheney and Richard Perle, how they personally benefited. After the cold war started to reduce military spending. After 9/11 it has only continued to increase. Money changes hands. US won't sing many treaties and won't ;et inspectors see their biological weapons that are being developed.

The war on terror. Describes Afghanistan and Iraq. Terrorists protected in FLoridaTalks about how Osama bin Laden admitted to it as retaliation against US bombing in the past. But US government tried to censor this. In Iraq the occupation only turned the people against the US even more, and the elections were strictly regulated by us to keep candidates favorable. War escalated after contractors killed in Fallujah.

Goes into the wars of the '90s. But gets into the background leading up to them, such as how the US has empowered the Ba'aths and supported Saddam Hussein, but once he started doing his own thing, the US turned on him. They wanted to secure oil rights . It talks about how the US is inconsistant the support, such as supporting Kurds in on country but opposing them in Turkey. Kosovo, breaking up Yugoslavia.

It goes in to the cold war. Of course it talks about Korea and Vietnam but also describes the less talked about wars. How the us backed regimes even if it was in opposition to democratically elected ones. Talks about the involvement behind the scenes, such as the CIA. Mentions start of Israeli Palestine conflict. Talks about how the US backed Osama bin Laden in the 80s, against the Soviets. No president blameless

Chapter 1 talks about US wars of expansion. First for territory and then for various companies. Quotes Smedley Butler. Says WWII was started for not honest reasons, private message from CFR to State department "
If war aims are stated which seem to be concerned solely with anglo-american imperialism, they will offer little to the rest of the world. Interest of other people should be stressed, better propaganda."