Source: http://www.sott.net/articles/show/216517-The-War-On-Terror-is-a-Fraud

Paul Craig Roberts
Sott.net
Fri, 15 Oct 2010 16:31 CDT

Does anyone remember the “cakewalk war” that would last six weeks, cost $50-$60 billion, and be paid for out of Iraqi oil revenues?

Does anyone remember that White House economist Lawrence Lindsey was fired by Dubya because Lindsey estimated that the Iraq war could cost as much as $200 billion?

Lindsey was fired for over-estimating the cost of a war that, according to Joseph Stiglitz and Linda Bilmes, has cost 15 times more than Lindsey estimated. And the US still has 50,000 troops in Iraq.

Does anyone remember that just prior to the US invasion of Iraq, the US government declared victory over the Taliban in Afghanistan?

Does anyone remember that the reason Dubya gave for invading Iraq was Saddam Hussein’s weapons of mass destruction, weapons that the US government knew did not exist?

Are Americans aware that the same neoconservatives who made these fantastic mistakes, or told these fabulous lies, are still in control of the government in Washington?

The “war on terror” is now in its tenth year. What is it really all about?

The bottom line answer is that the “war on terror” is about creating real terrorists. The US government desperately needs real terrorists in order to justify its expansion of its wars against Muslim countries and to keep the American people sufficiently fearful that they continue to accept the police state that provides “security from terrorists,” but not from the government that has discarded civil liberties.

The US government creates terrorists by invading Muslim countries, wrecking infrastructure and killing vast numbers of civilians. The US also creates terrorists by installing puppet governments to rule over Muslims and by using the puppet governments to murder and persecute citizens as is occurring on a vast scale in Pakistan today.

Neoconservatives used 9/11 to launch their plan for US world hegemony. Their plan fit with the interests of America’s ruling oligarchies. Wars are good for the profits of the military/security complex, about which President Eisenhower warned us in vain a half century ago. American hegemony is good for the oil industry’s control over resources and resource flows. The transformation of the Middle East into a vast American puppet state serves well the Israel Lobby’s Zionist aspirations for Israeli territorial expansion.

Most Americans cannot see what is happening because of their conditioning. Most Americans believe that their government is the best on earth, that it is morally motivated to help others and to do good, that it rushes aid to countries where there is famine and natural catastrophes. Most believe that their presidents tell the truth, except about their sexual affairs.

The persistence of these delusions is extraordinary in the face of daily headlines that report US government bullying of, and interference with, virtually every country on earth. The US policy is to buy off, overthrow, or make war on leaders of other countries who represent their peoples’ interests instead of American interests. A recent victim was the president of Honduras who had the wild idea that the Honduran government should serve the Honduran people.

The American government was able to have the Honduran president discarded, because the Honduran military is trained and supplied by the US military. It is the same case in Pakistan, where the US government has the Pakistani government making war on its own people by invading tribal areas that the Americans consider to be friendly to the Taliban, al Qaeda, “militants” and “terrorists.”

Earlier this year a deputy US Treasury secretary ordered Pakistan to raise taxes so that the Pakistani government could more effectively make war on its own citizens for the Americans. On October 14 US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton ordered Pakistan to again raise taxes or the US would withhold flood aid. Clinton pressured America’s European puppet states to do the same, expressing in the same breath that the US government was worried by British cuts in the military budget. God forbid that the hard-pressed British, still reeling from American financial fraud, don’t allocate enough money to fight America’s wars.

On Washington’s orders, the Pakistani government launched a military offensive against Pakistani citizens in the Swat Valley that killed large numbers of Pakistanis and drove millions of civilians from their homes. Last July the US instructed Pakistan to send its troops against the Pakistani residents of North Waziristan. On July 6 Jason Ditz reported on antiwar.com that “at America’s behest, Pakistan has launched offensives against [the Pakistani provinces of] Swat Valley, Bajaur, South Waziristan, Orakzai,and Khyber.”

A week later Israel’s US Senator Carl Levin (D,MI) called for escalating the Obama Administration’s policies of US airstrikes against Pakistan’s tribal areas. On September 30, the Pakistani newspaper, The Frontier Post, wrote that the American air strikes “are, plain and simple, a naked aggression against Pakistan.”

The US claims that its forces in Afghanistan have the right to cross into Pakistan in pursuit of “militants.” Recently US helicopter gunships killed three Pakistani soldiers who they mistook for Taliban. Pakistan closed the main US supply route to Afghanistan until the Americans apologized.

Pakistan warned Washington against future attacks. However, US military officials, under pressure from Obama to show progress in the endless Afghan war, responded to Pakistan’s warning by calling for expanding the Afghan war into Pakistan. On October 5 the Canadian journalist Eric Margolis wrote that “the US edges closer to invading Pakistan.”

In his book, Obama’s Wars, Bob Woodward reports that America’s puppet president of Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari, believes that terrorist bombing attacks inside Pakistan for which the Taliban are blamed are in fact CIA operations designed to destabilize Pakistan and allow Washington to seize Pakistan’s nuclear weapons.

To keep Pakistan in line, the US government changed its position that the “Times Square Bombing” was the work of a “lone wolf.” Attorney General Eric Holder switched the blame to the “Pakistani Taliban,” and Secretary of State Clinton threatened Pakistan with “very serious consequences” for the unsuccessful Times Square bombing, which likely was a false flag operation aimed at Pakistan.

To further heighten tensions, on September 1 the eight members of a high-ranking Pakistani military delegation in route to a meeting in Tampa, Florida, with US Central Command, were rudely treated and detained as terrorist suspects at Washington DC’s Dulles Airport.

For decades the US government has enabled repeated Israeli military aggression against Lebanon and now appears to be getting into gear for another Israeli assault on the former American protectorate of Lebanon. On October 14 the US government expressed its “outrage” that the Lebanese government had permitted a visit by Iranian President Ahmadinejad, who is the focus of Washington’s intense demonization efforts. Israel’s representatives in the US Congress threatened to stop US military aid to Lebanon, forgetting that US Rep. Howard Berman (D,CA) has had aid to Lebanon blocked since last August to punish Lebanon for a border clash with Israel.

Perhaps the most telling headline of all is the October 14 report, “Somalia’s New American Primer Minister.” An American has been installed as the Prime Minister of Somalia, an American puppet government in Mogadishu backed up by thousands of Ugandan troops paid by Washington.

This barely scratches the surface of Washington’s benevolence toward other countries and respect for their rights, borders, and lives of their citizens.

Meanwhile, to silence Wikileaks and to prevent any more revelations of American war crimes, the “freedom and democracy” government in DC has closed down Wikileaks’ donations by placing the organization on its “watch list” and by having the Australian puppet government blacklist Wikileaks.

Wikileaks is now akin to a terrorist organization. The American government’s practice of silencing critics will spread across the Internet.

Remember, they hate us because we have freedom and democracy, First Amendment rights, habeas corpus, respect for human rights, and show justice and mercy to all.

About: Paul Craig Roberts http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Craig_Roberts

Review by John Bursill

This absolutely brilliant interview by Bonnie Faulkner of Guns and Butter brings out a new depth in the Bowman story. This enlightening discussion with Bowman and Faulkner does more to explain the military situation of a fascist American oligarchy than any before! Bowman reiterating many times that it is the “pinnacle event” of 9/11 that still provides the only justification for the current political reality and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq it ignited.

Titled “Vietnam, Star Wars and 9/11″ with Dr. Robert Bowman.”
Listen Here

Dr Robert M. Bowman

From the show notes: Dr. Bowman discusses his US Air Force experiences in Vietnam in 1968-69; as Director of Advanced Space Programs Development in the Ford and Carter administrations; the 1982 Defense Guidance Document; his public opposition to the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI) better know as Star Wars during the Ronald Reagan administration; his take on the events of September 11, 2001; and wars of aggression. -END-

Faulkner delves deep into Bowman’s tour in Vietnam and his feelings during his service as a career military officer in the US Air Force. We discover through Bowman’s personal struggle with what he had done during his military service has led to him becoming the most powerful spokesman for the “9/11 Truth for Peace” argument today. Dr Robert M. Bowman is possibly the only person “talking truth to power” that can put all the geopolitical pieces together in such clear context, and so well articulate why an end to the Neo-Con “War on Terrorism” is required immediately!

Dr Robert Bowman is currently on Tour across America and details of his appearances are found here: The Patriots (Bob’s Schedule)

Out of all the Peace Activists in action today Bob Bowman and Cindy Sheehan stand out as simply exemplary examples to follow. This is because of their honesty, their dedication to truth and most of all there clarity of purpose! Bowman has done more for the 9/11 Truth Movement in the Peace Movement circles than possible any other individual and in historical terms will be possibly the greatest American Patriot of his era.

Recently Visibility911.com did another excellent interview with Bowman which can be found here: Dr Robert M. Bowman Talks “9/11 Truth To Power” on Visibility 9-11
In this interview Bowman goes into more detail of his views about the 9/11 Truth Movement and his wish for us to keep it simple and focus on things we can prove like the demolition of Building 7. Bob Bowman is not a supporter of “conspiracy theories” or “speculation”, he is a supporter of exposing evidence that demonstrates a criminal cabal at work in America today and doing all that is required to put them out of business.

By Bowman letting us see deep inside his military experience and admitting finding military combat and war somewhat “addictive” allows a much clearer understanding of the difficulty we face as peace activists. This interview makes clear that 9/11 Truth will have more to do with a new conciousness of the American soldier that any other signal issue. If we are to win their hearts and minds and encourage them to keep their solemn oath to object to illegal orders and fighting illegal “wars of aggression”, we must enlighten them to the truth of the pretext to war, 9/11.

Guns and Butter at KPFA is currently struggling to stay afloat, please consider a donation: Pledge on Line

Article by John Bursill

So why should we believe that “9/11 Truth” can stop the war in Afghanistan and bring the “War on Terrorism” to an end?

I will lay out below the non-conspiratorial reasons why it is vitally important that we continue to demand accountability from our governments, on why it is they went to war on our behalf in 2001. I will also argue why I am correct to strongly assert that the pursuit of 9/11 truth and a criminal investigation of those events is the only practical path to peace today. Details of an upcoming Sydney “9/11 Truth for Peace” Protest on September 11th, 2010 are at the bottom of this article.

On the 11th of September 2001 the world entered a very dark chapter of its history! We were promised a 100 years of war in this “New American Century” fighting “the terrorists” wherever the American Empire deemed they were, and at the time of their choosing. We were told that this “New Pear Harbor” event carried out on 9/11 by the CIA born Al-Qaeda was a fair and reasonable reason to carry out a preemptive strike against their supporters the Taliban, by the invasion and occupation of Afghanistan.

The vast majority of the world’s population and its governments rallied behind the US determined to fight Islamic terrorism together world wide. Although some more skeptical commentators and governments were cautious with their support for this so called “War on Terrorism”, they found themselves intimidated into silence. For the Bush/Cheney Administration and its powerful media supporters made it abundantly clear “that you are with us or you are with the terrorists” GWB.

The newly elected (?) Bush Administration and its Neo-Con agenda (Rebuilding America’s Defenses) went into full swing in the last few months of 2001 by the use of this powerful new catalyst of fear, 9/11. The American public was so angry and shocked by 9/11 that they were literally cheering for revenge and in full support of military retaliation. Innocently and traumatized they trusted the story they were told about 9/11 without evidence, and also trusted that George W. Bush would lead them to victory against the terrorists and capture Osama Bin Laden “dead or alive”! Still for the Bush Administration to be able to see their new “pre-emptive war doctrine” slide into position with an Afghan War, rather than being seen as a “war crime”, the US Government had to give many assurances to the world and it’s governments. Assurances that evidence would be produced to prove their Bin Laden Al-Qaeda “conspiracy theory” in a White Paper and that they would investigate how it was that the attacks happened. Making that investigation the basis of their policy to stop such terrorism into the future. They would with out a doubt address their massive military and intelligence failures on 9/11 and make changes to prevent any further now expected attacks.

They also made many hollow promises to the American people. Like they would look after the welfare of the 9/11 First Responders, who are still waiting for basic health care as they fall in the thousands to the effects of the toxic dust they were told was safe! They also said they would get to the bottom of the massive and unprecedented structural failures of the three WTC towers 1, 2 and 7. Those towers that fell that day at near or actual free fall speeds led to the death of 343 New York Firefighters and thousands of civilians who never imagined the buildings would collapse at all. Today a growing number of Firefighters, Engineers, Architects, Scientists and building professionals question these collapses as inconsistent with being caused by fire and aircraft damage alone. The collapse of building 7 (not hit by a plane) and the discovery of Nano-Thermite in the collapse dust being the clearest evidence that pre-planted explosives and incendiaries charges within the buildings assisted in their destruction. Who did this and why and how it happened is clearly needed to be investigated in a criminal court immediately.

Unfortunately it is true and un-controversial to state unequivocally that we, the public have received none of what the US Government assured us they would deliver. Rather we have seen in an unprecedented manner the most obvious and ruthless cover up and destruction of evidence and testimony around the events of 9/11. This lack of accountability is most starkly supported by the statement by the chairs of the 9/11 Commission Report, that “they were set up to fail” and that NIST the National Institute of Science and Technology is unable to explain many aspects of the building collapses. Some of the things they can not and will not explain include; the actual collapse sequence of the Twin Towers, the molten iron found at ground zero and the simply unbelievable “absolute” free fall of building 7 for over 100ft of its fall! To this day, we the people of the world have no idea based on official “testable” reports of what really happened on 9/11! Who is responsible for those heinous crimes is a question that simply can not be answered without a criminal investigation. Secrecy is everywhere and truth, transparency and justice are nowhere to be seen?

The 9/11 Truth Movement world wide have been demanding a new investigation of the events of September 11, 2001 for 9 years now and have continuously pointed out that we should withdraw the troops from Afghanistan immediately until we know who is responsible for the 9/11 Attacks. The FBI still have not indicted Bin Laden for 9/11 as the say they have “no hard evidence” connecting him to those events? Disturbingly Khalid Sheikh Mohammed the so called “mastermind” of the 9/11 attacks, whose tortured testimony is the basis of the official 9/11 “conspiracy theory” in the “9/11 Commission Report” remains un-charged to this day for those crimes?

Although much work has been done by citizen researchers to discover who may or may not have been involved with carrying out the 9/11 Attacks, such endeavors are impossible to fulfill without subpoena power in a courtroom.

Recently two more Australians died in Afghanistan fighting a provably illegal war on behalf of the Australian Government’s support for the “War on Terrorism”. This Government support of the war is based on the the understanding that the 9/11 Attacks were a direct result of the Taliban supporting and harboring the terrorists responsible for the crimes committed on 9/11. Remove this justification and their is absolutely no reason for any further support! This 9/11 war in Afghanistan has now taken 20 of Australia’s finest in the field, which is double the number of Australians that where killed on 9/11. How many innocent Afghans have died because of the invasion and occupation is anyone’s guess as the media and the military have little interest in finding out the true figures to date. Estimates put it at approximately 30,000 people, although it’s probably a much greater number?

The Australian 9/11 Truth Movement are determined to expose to the Australian people the facts that dispute the legitimacy of the official story of 9/11! They continue to demand that Australian troops are immediately removed from Afghanistan until 9/11 is properly investigated and evidence is produced to demonstrate Afghanistan is responsible in any way for those attacks!

It is clear from the simple facts that are on the public record that nine years on there is no mandate or excuse for the invasion and occupation of Afghanistan, and that 9/11 truth is the only practical path to peace today. With out exposing that the pretext to this war is simply not based in reality, the anger and hatred of the people in the west ignorant of the facts will allow the bloodshed to continue.

A protest will be held in Sydney’s Hyde Park in the vicinity of the War Memorial (Map) on the 9th anniversary of the September 11th Attacks. Hereward Fenton the organizer and member of “We Are Change – Sydney” says “this protest will be held in honor of the Australian lives lost on 9/11 and the brave soldiers who have fallen since in Afghanistan in their name. We also will remember the innocent Afghan deaths and hope that we can help bring Afghanistan to peace!”. The protest will be static in nature commencing at 11am on Saturday the 11th of September and continuing to approximately 2pm that day. Hereward can be contacted at hereward@911oz.com or call him on +61415059675

Review by John Bursill

If you really want to know who “did” 9/11, this film “The New American Century” by Massimo Mazzucco does a great job at setting out both who called for it and who befitted from it!

While this production is successful in confronting deeply disturbing recent American and world history, its greatest achievement is that it presents the real and clear message that the American Neo-Cons are in control of our world at war today. It makes the case indirectly that their control will continue to be a reality until the real history of the events on September 11th, 2001 are confronted by the American public.

See: New American Century ; scroll down to watch a low quality version on Google video.

I would dispute the validity of the makers of this film speculation on the Pentagon attack regarding flight 77 hitting the building. But as they do not make any claims as to what happened I feel this film is fine for a wide distribution. In general it’s solid, well made and hard evidence based! Unfortunately the creator of this film has promoted less well researched material and is seen by many as a classic “conspiracy theorist”; never the less this is a good film.

“The New American Century” reminds me why I am a 9/11 Truth Advocate and it steels my resolve to continue to fight for truth and justice until the end of the Neo-Con era.