John Laughland’s prescience on the Arab Spring ‘revolutions’ and the ongoing co-option of the anti-war left
By Maidhc Ó Cathail | The Passionate Attachment | November 19, 2011
Back in 2005, British journalist John Laughland wrote two excellent op-ed pieces for the Guardian. In “The mythology of people power,” Laughland commented on the recently deposed President of Kyrgyzstan’s reference to the role of a criminal “third force” in the U.S.-backed coup that overthrew him:
Originally used as a label for covert operatives shoring up apartheid in South Africa, before being adopted by the US-backed “pro-democracy” movement in Iran in November 2001, the third force is also the title of a book published by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, which details how western-backed non-governmental organisations (NGOs) can promote regime and policy change all over the world. The formulaic repetition of a third “people power” revolution in the former Soviet Union in just over one year – after the similar events in Georgia in November 2003 and in Ukraine last Christmas – means that the post-Soviet space now resembles Central America in the 1970s and 1980s, when a series of US-backed coups consolidated that country’s control over the western hemisphere.
Many of the same US government operatives in Latin America have plied their trade in eastern Europe under George Bush, most notably Michael Kozak, former US ambassador to Belarus, who boasted in these pages in 2001 that he was doing in Belarus exactly what he had been doing in Nicaragua: “supporting democracy”.
But for some reason, many on the left seem not to have noticed this continuity. Perhaps this is because these events are being energetically presented as radical and leftwing even by commentators and political activists on the right, for whom revolutionary violence is now cool.
As protesters ransacked the presidential palace in Bishkek last week (unimpeded by the police who were under strict instructions not to use violence), a Times correspondent enthused about how the scenes reminded him of Bolshevik propaganda films about the 1917 revolution. The Daily Telegraph extolled “power to the people”, while the Financial Times welcomed Kyrgyzstan’s “long march” to freedom.
This myth of the masses spontaneously rising up against an authoritarian regime now exerts such a grip over the collective imagination that it persists despite being obviously false: try to imagine the American police allowing demonstrators to ransack the White House, and you will immediately understand that these “dictatorships” in the former USSR are in reality among the most fragile, indulgent and weak regimes in the world.
In “Enemies bought, friends sold,” Laughland noted the similar failure to understand the subsequent upheaval in neighbouring Uzbekistan:
The twist this time is that President Karimov of Uzbekistan is presented as a pro-US tyrant rather than a Soviet-era throwback – so anti-war left and liberal commentators have been co-opted into baying for his blood. Yet their support for the latest “people power” movement to shake a former Soviet republic is naive. They seem not to have noticed that Uzbekistan is home to precisely the same network of US-funded non-governmental organisations, human rights activists and media outlets that helped to engineer pro-US “revolutions” in Serbia, Georgia, Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan.
Take the source of Friday’s atrocity reports from Andijan: one “opposition journalist” from the website ferghana.ru, which seems to be a shop window for the Institute of War and Peace Reporting. IWPR, which has since provided the bulk of reports in the western press, is overwhelmingly funded by western governments and private foundations close to them: the US state department, USAid, the National Endowment for Democracy, the US Institute for Peace, George Soros’s Open Society Foundation, the British Foreign Office, the European commission, the OSCE, Unesco, and other European governments, among others.
People who reason that the US supports President Karimov, and will therefore turn a blind eye to his alleged excesses, do not understand the thrust of current American policy, which is to try to support and control all sides in any political equation. As in neighbouring Kyrgyzstan under former President Akayev, Uzbekistan is home to scores of western-backed NGOs that agitate politically for the opposition. For instance, Freedom House – a notorious CIA front and the main architect of the orange revolution in Ukraine – has an office in Tashkent.
If Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and Muhammad Hosni Sayyid Mubarak had read the conclusion to Laughland’s April 1 piece, they could have been forgiven for thinking it was intended as an April Fool’s joke:
But perhaps the clearest message sent by Akayev’s overthrow is this: in the new world order the sudden replacement of party cadres hangs as a permanent threat – or incentive – over even the most compliant apparatchik.
Now, they know better. But most anti-war left and liberal commentators remain as clueless as ever.
Share this:
Related
November 19, 2011 - Posted by aletho | Deception, Full Spectrum Dominance, Timeless or most popular
2 Comments
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
Featured Video
Syrian blogger tells RT how she was labeled a ‘Russian bot’
For more videos go to the Aletho News – Video Category
or go to
Aletho News Archives – Video-Images
From the Archives
Murdoch is not the only maggot in the rotten apple
By Stuart Littlewood | My Catbird Seat | July 20, 2011
Having disposed of the Murdoch menace – for the moment anyway – it’s time for the British public to turn the spotlight on the other villains our craven politicians pay homage to.
Public enemy Number One is the pro-Israel lobby. An organization called the Conservative Friends of Israel states it has “twin aims of supporting Israel and promoting Conservatism. With close to 2000 activists as members – alongside 80% of Conservative MPs – CFI is active at every level of the Party”.
And the rot goes all the way to the top… continue
Aletho News Original Content
Three Mile Island, Global Warming and the CIA
By Aletho News | January 9, 2012
This article will examine some of the connections between the US and UK National Security apparatus and the appearance of the anthropogenic global warming (AGW) theory beginning after the accident at Three Mile Island. … continue
~
Also by Aletho News:
March 8, 2011
Investment bankers salivate over North Africa
February 25, 2010
Look out for the nuclear bomb coming with your electric bill
February 7, 2010
The saturated fat scam: What’s the real story?
December 26, 2009
Mining the soil: Biomass, the unsustainable energy source
December 4, 2009
There’s more to climate fraud than just tax hikes
About Aletho News’ Name
Blog Roll
Visits Since December 2009
- 3,228,211 hits
Follow Aletho News on Twitter
My TweetsLooking for something?
Archives
Calendar
Categories
Aletho News Civil Liberties Corruption Deception Economics Environmentalism Ethnic Cleansing, Racism, Zionism Fake News False Flag Terrorism Full Spectrum Dominance Illegal Occupation Mainstream Media, Warmongering Militarism Nuclear Power Progressive Hypocrite Russophobia Science and Pseudo-Science Solidarity and Activism Subjugation - Torture Supremacism, Social Darwinism Timeless or most popular Video War Crimes Wars for IsraelTags
9/11 Afghanistan Africa AIPAC al-Qaeda Argentina BBC Benjamin Netanyahu Brazil Canada Central Intelligence Agency China CIA CNN Colombia Da’esh Donald Trump Egypt European Union Facebook FBI France Gaza Germany Google Hamas Hebron Hezbollah Hillary Clinton Honduras Human rights India International Solidarity Movement Iran Iraq Iraq War ISIL ISIS Israel Israeli settlement Japan Jeremy Corbyn Jerusalem John Kerry Latin America Lebanon Libya Middle East Military National Security Agency NATO New York Times North Korea NSA Obama Pakistan Palestine Press TV Qatar Russia Sanctions against Iran Saudi Arabia Syria The Guardian Turkey UK Ukraine United Nations United States USA Venezuela Washington Post West Bank Yemen ZionismLatest Comments
traducteur on Palestinians file complaint to… roberthstiver on Is the U.S. Government Evil? Y… Brian Harry, Austral… on Is the U.S. Government Evil? Y… Anthony Clifton on Is the U.S. Government Evil? Y… roberthstiver on Palestinians file complaint to… Brian Harry, Austral… on MSNBC, where journalism goes t… Brian Harry, Austral… on US to Build World’s Larg… Brian Harry, Austral… on Palestinians file complaint to… Kolo on Dear Salafist Wahhabist A… Jont on A Brilliant Early Defender of… Anthony Clifton on Who Is Terrance Yeakey? Anthony Clifton on What Will Weapons Inspectors F… michael major\\ on What Will Weapons Inspectors F… roberthstiver on The Mainstream Media Fueled Mi… roberthstiver on What Will Weapons Inspectors F…
Aletho News
- Scarier Than John Bolton? April 24, 2018
- A Furtive Glance at the US’s Ongoing War Preparations Against Russia April 24, 2018
- US struggling to handle excess plutonium April 24, 2018
- US, EU States Agree on Conditions to Preserve Iranian Nuclear Deal – Reports April 24, 2018
- Is the U.S. Government Evil? You Tell Me April 24, 2018
- ‘I’ve seen the censorship’: Syrian blogger tells RT how she was labeled a ‘Russian bot’ April 24, 2018
- ‘Another Russophobic Campaign’ Adds to UK Government’s New ‘Project Fear’ April 23, 2018
- Palestinians file complaint to UN over Israel violation of anti-racism convention April 23, 2018
- US to Build World’s Largest Consulate Facility in Iraqi Kurdistan – Reports April 23, 2018
- A Shocking Lack of Intelligence in Our Missile Strike on Syria April 23, 2018
- What Will Weapons Inspectors Find in Syria… And Does it Matter? April 23, 2018
- With eye on Pompeo, Zarif reaches New York April 23, 2018
- MSNBC, where journalism goes to die April 23, 2018
- The Mainstream Media Fueled Military Action in Syria and Reprisals against Russia over the Skripals April 23, 2018
- Index on Disgrace April 23, 2018
- Dear Salafist Wahhabist Apologists April 23, 2018
- Israeli settlers attack Palestinian families, attempt to take over homes in Hebron April 22, 2018
- Russia-Iran ties soar high under US pressure April 22, 2018
If Americans Knew
OffGuardian
- USA: No Restitution to Syria April 24, 2018
- Western Media Shorthand on Venezuela Conveys and Conceals So Much April 24, 2018
- UN Security Team Still Won’t Let Inspectors Visit Douma April 23, 2018
- Russian Missile Tech has Made America’s Trillion Dollar Navy Obsolete April 22, 2018
Gilad Atzmon
- Jewish Guilt is the Discourse of The Goyim April 24, 2018
- Portman and Corbyn April 22, 2018
- On the False Dichotomy Between 'Jews' and 'Zionism' April 21, 2018
More Links
Contact:
atheonews (at) gmail.comdisclaimer
This site is provided as a research and reference tool. Although we make every reasonable effort to ensure that the information and data provided at this site are useful, accurate, and current, we cannot guarantee that the information and data provided here will be error-free. By using this site, you assume all responsibility for and risk arising from your use of and reliance upon the contents of this site.
This site and the information available through it do not, and are not intended to constitute legal advice. Should you require legal advice, you should consult your own attorney.
Nothing within this site or linked to by this site constitutes investment advice or medical advice.
Materials accessible from or added to this site by third parties, such as comments posted, are strictly the responsibility of the third party who added such materials or made them accessible and we neither endorse nor undertake to control, monitor, edit or assume responsibility for any such third-party material.
The posting of stories, commentaries, reports, documents and links (embedded or otherwise) on this site does not in any way, shape or form, implied or otherwise, necessarily express or suggest endorsement or support of any of such posted material or parts therein.
The word "alleged" is deemed to occur before the word "fraud." Since the rule of law still applies. To peasants, at least.
Fair Use
This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more info go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
DMCA Contact
This is information for anyone that wishes to challenge our “fair use” of copyrighted material.
If you are a legal copyright holder or a designated agent for such and you believe that content residing on or accessible through our website infringes a copyright and falls outside the boundaries of “Fair Use”, please send a notice of infringement by contacting atheonews@gmail.com.
We will respond and take necessary action immediately.
If notice is given of an alleged copyright violation we will act expeditiously to remove or disable access to the material(s) in question.
All 3rd party material posted on this website is copyright the respective owners / authors. Aletho News makes no claim of copyright on such material.
Is this not the case in the USA too? The Occupy movements hidden hands are paid by CIA agencies, NED and AID. Who is OTPAR? Look at Egypt and see no progress, only greater repression by a more dictatorial military government and greater poverty for the population.
Martial Law, a police-state, is a constant threat, and if it comes, it will be on the back of another covert psyop, which could include hitting key government buildings and perhaps landmarks like the Sears Towers in Chicago and perhaps the Golden Gate Bridge. And why not, they got away with 9/11 so far. That is the real green light for state-terrorism to work its dastardly destruction, mayhem, mass murder, and selected assassinations.
Did the OWS assembly march on the location of WTC #7 as planned today? Any news accounts as yet? WBAI was jerking-off, as was c-span. Perhaps ‘”national security'” was used as gag order to make sure “it never happened” – but did it? Anyone go as far to ask or say, who did it? It is an open secret, and for that reason the march should progress to the Israeli embassy in NYC, as well as in every center of Occupy___________.
I addressed it in a community newspaper, it can be read and the 10 live links pressed to give anyone a strong enough argument to think it through, discuss it with all your friends, and if you conclude that is was the US and Israel, then you have to state it publicly wherever possible, and even when “not the time or place” – The Occupy movement has not been an anti-war movement, nor a anti-nuke movement, and by endorsing the ‘Dream Act’ proves it is part of US corporate imperialism using the government to pay for the mass murder and genocide they want to take what they want for free.
That link to ‘Where’s the Movement?
http://freevenicebeachhead.wordpress.com/2011/11/01/where%E2%80%99s-the-movement-two-views-on-the-occupy-movement/
This is all I have for now:
http://www.ustream.tv/TheOther99
And:
Twitter Updates
UPDATE: Police open barricades, allow large crowd of protesters to march in front of Federal Hall on Wall St: http://t.co/HevLi3C0 #OWS
@anjalimullany -You can watch a second feed here: http://t.co/HevLi3C0
ALERT: Large crowd marches on Wall St from #Zuccotti Park. Watch LIVE now: http://t.co/HevLi3C0 #OWS 47 minutes ago
ALERT: Large crowd amassing now at #Zuccotti Park for a spontaneous march to Wall St. Watch LIVE: http://t.co/HevLi3C0 #OWS 1 hour ago
LIVE PIC: @Timcast is interviewing Capt. Ray Lewis.. #OWS #OccupyPhilly http://t.co/5NX81x1m