What is to be made of the Emperor’s announcement of the "Atrocity Prevention Board", in the waning days of April? Without a doubt it is a carte blanche for "regime change", for intervention wherever, whenever, against whomever. That, then, puts it in a remarkable continuity with the 2008 "Bush Doctrine," itself a logical extension of the Brezhnev one.
Nor is this a recent phenomenon. As early as Obama’s inauguration, it was clear he would embrace continuity, rather than the change he promised. Rather than ending Bush’s wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, pointless after the death of Osama bin Laden, Obama made them his own. Instead of hunting al-Qaeda, the troops were hitched into the oxcart of "nation-building" and democracy promotion. Even after the official exit from Iraq, and the recently negotiated exit from Afghanistan, to maintain the client regimes in Baghdad and Kabul, the Empire will need to maintain garrisons and spend further treasure. Which keeps dwindling, as it is.
Meanwhile, the Drone Wars rage on, the molestation at airports has reached unprecedented levels, and the Empire has turned its interventionist Eye elsewhere: Libya last year, and Syria now. Where is the outrage?
The difference is in packaging. The wars of Bush II were easy to mock as a product of greed, and his apparatus of power was arrogant enough to actually admit to will-to-power fantasies. Meanwhile, Bush helped the continuity of Empire when he chose to adopt his predecessor’s Balkans policy. With Obama in the White House effectively bringing a Clinton Restoration, the Balkans were once again trotted out as an example of Empire as the virtuous knight-errant, riding all over the globe to "stop atrocities" not for the sake of profit and power (!) but out of sheer altruism.
Wages of (In)gratitude
One typical proponent of this narrative is Washington Post columnist Richard Cohen. Last December, in a column accusing Rep. Ron Paul of being a Nazi (!), Cohen argued that "America remains a mighty nation, capable of doing good in the world." As examples, he cited Libya, Bosnia and Kosovo. Earlier this week, he complained that Syrians had to wait for their "liberation" through Imperial ordnance.
Oh, but Libya worked out so well, didn’t it?
Bosnia is a perennial favorite of the "humanitarian imperialist" set, the war that gave them meaning after the collapse of Communism. The recent 20th anniversary of the war’s outbreak brought forth a veritable orgy of self-righteous reminiscence from the journalists who built their careers on hyperbolic sob stories calling for Intervention Now.
Not only was intervening in Bosnia supposed to make the liberal imperialists feel better about themselves (their supreme value, after all), it was supposed to curry favor with "jihadists of all color and hue." The aforementioned Richard Cohen actually suggested, barely two months after 9/11, that the best strategy in the fight against al-Qaeda was "bagging Karadzic", the wartime leader of Bosnian Serbs.
Karadzic was "bagged" in 2008. Yet the only gratitude that has materialized so far has been a string of jihadists like Mevlid Jasarevic and Adis Medunjanin.
Snake’s Delight
As for Kosovo, much can be said about the wisdom – or lack thereof – of using an illegal war and even more illegal secession as any sort of precedent. More so because dozens of high-ranking Imperial officials swore that it wouldn’t be a precedent – for anyone but themselves, anyway.
It was entirely appropriate that the Atrocity Prevention Board got one of its first endorsements from none other than Hashim Thaci, once a KLA terrorist known as "Snake" and now the "Prime Minister of Kosovo" – and on the pages of WaPo-owned Foreign Policy, no less. Not only was Thaci one of the principal beneficiaries of "humanitarian interventionism," but if it becomes a permanent fixture of Imperial policy, it will effectively shield him from an inquiry into his ghoulish dealings: murder, torture, ethnic cleansing, organized crime and trade in body parts.
Atrocities committed by the Empire itself, or its clients and proxies, simply don’t count. Earlier this week, an EU-run "court" acquitted Fatmir Limaj, one of Thaci’s henchmen. He was accused of murder and torture in a KLA death camp. Granted, the mainstream media talk of "mistreatment" at a "prison" – but they also accept at face value the story that the principal witness in the case committed suicide by hanging himself in a public park, an occurrence as unusual as it is convenient.
Meanwhile, news comes that both the Libyan and Syrian “rebels” are appealing to Thaci’s “government” for advice and assistance. Not on how to fight – the KLA certainly couldn’t – but on how to win world sympathy and trigger intervention.
Not When We Do It
The very same journalists, diplomats and advocates that now cheer for "humanitarian imperialism" completely ignored "Operation Flash" – both when it happened, and on its anniversary. On May 1, 1995, the U.S.-trained and -armed Croatian military launched a lightning strike on a UN "safe area" inhabited by ethnic Serbs. But their murder and ethnic cleansing was quite all right – as was the subsequent "Operation Storm," in August that year – because it furthered Washington’s agenda in the Balkans. Likewise the 2004 pogrom of ethnic Serbs in Kosovo, organized by the KLA – which was rewarded with "independence" in 2008.
In Empire-speak, an "atrocity" is anything the Other Side does, while the Empire itself and the Designated Victim can do no wrong, ever. Just as the "liberating" and "humanitarian" bombs instantly transform anyone they hit into an enemy combatant, while Empire-backed armed terrorists killed in battle magically become "innocent civilians." There is no logic involved here, just faith: in the absolute righteousness of Self, and absolute wickedness of the Other.
Monsters and Tyrants
In 1821, while he was Secretary of State for President Monroe, John Quincy Adams warned about the danger of embroiling America in foreign quarrels. America, he said, “goes not abroad, in search of monsters to destroy. She is the well-wisher to the freedom and independence of all. She is the champion and vindicator only of her own.”
Were America to enlist “under other banners than her own, were they even the banners of foreign independence,” she would “involve herself beyond the power of extrication” in things that “assume the colors and usurp the standard of freedom. The fundamental maxims of her policy would insensibly change from liberty to force…. She might become the dictatress of the world. She would be no longer the ruler of her own spirit…”
Sounds eerily prophetic, does it not? How could Adams, who went on to become President himself (1825-29), have known about the ultimate outcome of weaponizing human rights? Because that "doctrine" is nothing but another coat to disguise the lust for power – and the Founders understood the perils of such lust all too well.
Today, 190 years hence, America’s official doctrine is to roam the world in search of monsters to destroy. In doing so it feeds the real monster: the Empire consuming it from within, body and soul.
It doesn’t make one bit of difference that the supposedly noble Barack Hussein Obama is in charge of such an enterprise rather than the supposedly venal George Walker Bush. For, to quote C.S. Lewis:
"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron’s cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience."
Read more by Nebojsa Malic
- Between Hope and Despair – April 20th, 2012
- Hunger Games – March 29th, 2012
- Reality Rift – March 9th, 2012
- Intervention, Reloaded – February 23rd, 2012
- A House of Sand and Fog – February 10th, 2012
mickperry
May 3rd, 2012 at 10:49 pm
Thanks to Nebojsa Malic for a great essay, and at the end of the day these omnipotent moral busybodies only thrive because of our own ignorance and equanimity.
jako
May 4th, 2012 at 5:46 am
"There is no logic involved here, just faith: in the absolute righteousness of Self, and absolute wickedness of the Other."
Very important and not mainstream politically correct subject of "Tyranny of Good Intentions".
Good intentions always anticipate military and other "humanitarian" interventions lately.
Always in the name of "freedom" and "democracy".
Never words have been so emptied out of their own content and perverted in its function, by collective hypocrisy, stupidity and self-righteousness of global dimensions.
A hubris of neo-colonial masters.
Thank you Nebojsa. I'm always pleased and inspired to read your articles.
MichaelKenny
May 4th, 2012 at 9:31 am
Every two weeks, stir the pot! Obviously, nothing of any significance is happening in ex-Yugoslavia. Amused, though, to see the author betraying his own propaganda techniques: the same conduct can be called “murder and torture” or “mistreatment”, and the same establishment can be a “prison” or a “death camp”, or, indeed, a whole host of other things, depending on the spin you’re putting on the story! Moral: a large grain of salt!
Sam
May 4th, 2012 at 9:34 am
You really are a leach and Internet Warrior of the highest order I applaud you
Nina
May 4th, 2012 at 12:05 pm
a perfect summary!
Aleksandar
May 4th, 2012 at 1:02 pm
Meanwhile, in Macedonia…
http://beirut-via-skopje.blogspot.com/2012/05/mus…
Bianca
May 5th, 2012 at 7:55 am
What else to expect from a troll? Good troll education, granted. Just take whatever is being said, and claim that the author does that too. Simple, brilliant — and transparent.
Bianca
May 5th, 2012 at 8:34 am
It may be that the path to the dark side is really complete in our country. Our Candidate of Hope, just transformed the emperial bloodbath into a "new normal". The murderers of civilians in Syria are coming for advice to Kosovo! it is the right address. Is Kosovo the right place to learn how to kill and torture civilianst to scare them into obedience? This is what Syrian "rebels" are alrady doing. They need not learn how to execute Government soldiers, postmen, teachers, etc. Der Spiegel published an interview with one of the executioners, cum revolutionaries in Syria. But what they WILL do, is meet with their minders in Camp Bondsteel to set up a "winning" strategy. And it will be violent — one can count on that. So, how many lives does the Empire find expendable in order to achieve its "humanitarian" goals? And how much longer after "We came, We saw, He is Dead", the civilians are to be punished by being robbed, raped and killed in Libya?
Nothing to see here, just move on — that is lately Empire's most favorite approach to bloodbaths of its making.
Guest
May 6th, 2012 at 10:30 am
Grab a life Nina/MK. You need one. Try this jackassery all you want, in the end the Truth will prevail.
Guest
May 6th, 2012 at 10:32 am
Its islame which brings out such barbarity in people.
Croaticus
May 6th, 2012 at 10:40 am
"The very same journalists, diplomats and advocates that now cheer for "humanitarian imperialism" completely ignored "Operation Flash" – both when it happened, and on its anniversary. On May 1, 1995, the U.S.-trained and -armed Croatian military launched a lightning strike on a UN "safe area" inhabited by ethnic Serbs. But their murder and ethnic cleansing was quite all right – as was the subsequent "Operation Storm," in August that year – because it furthered Washington’s agenda in the Balkans."
These two sacred military operations were legitimate. Regarding what Malic calls "murder and ethnic cleansing", this can be considered as a kind of just revenge for all the crimes Serbs were committing on the Croatian people in the period 1991-1995. Chronology is important here: if one wants to properly understand the year 1995, one has to look back at the year 1991 and all the atrocities Serbs (of the Yugoslav Army) did in Croatia.
Hail victory!
I never shed any tears over the Serb "victims" of these two operations.
antiwar7
May 6th, 2012 at 11:08 am
So sayeth the courageous armchair warrior, proud member of the Grandma Killers, 6th Battalion.
Serbophobe
May 7th, 2012 at 1:52 am
No surprises. As expected, the pro-EU forces won the Serbian elections. Both Tadic and Nikolic, who are political rivals, but at the same time both of them advocate that Serbia join EU, gained most electoral supports. Once again it is proved that the majority of the Serbian people are "pro-empire" (to put it in Malic's terms).
Aleksandar
May 7th, 2012 at 5:49 am
Not necessarily. The point is that it's radical Islam coupled with Albanian chauvinism against the Macedonians mixed with a desire to dissolve Macedonia. The base of these movements is in Kosovo, the empire's so successful project that would have stabilized the region (anything but) and containing camp Bondsteel, the largest NATO / US military base in Europe.
MvGuy
May 7th, 2012 at 6:53 am
Not them……….. No one cares about them, it's their oil, their land and their boots…. in service to the nuclear, drone empire…………. However, it has been declared illegal for them to resist empire's encroachments, hence empire labels them illegal combatants, or war criminals for the Hague to convict. Back in the Imperial city, the mass murders of the 1OOs of 1OOOs by lies, forgeries and high tech extermination for their oil receive "Medals of Freedom"…… "5OO,OOO dead (Muslim,) children… "Worth It" …….. Empire's "Good" Genocide……
"the same conduct can be called “murder and torture” or “mistreatment”, and the same establishment can be a “prison” or a “death camp”, or, indeed, a whole host of other things, depending on the spin you’re putting on the story! Moral: a large grain of salt!"…………..
You missed the "freedom" canard……. the very foundation of empire's exploits……. Free to rob and steal…….channel the Reich, their M.O., their laws and their camps….to bribe, torture, rape, murder and blockade…….
Bianca
May 7th, 2012 at 2:50 pm
For someone who is defending Operation Flash and Operation Storm, speaking in the most vile language of the victims of genocide — I am perplexed what is he still doing at this site. It is not the right, but the priviledge to publish opinions in public forums. And I am appaled that such individuals are still allowed to publish without consequences. So, victims are always guilty of something — and deserve to die. Revenge is not a right — as every victor claims to commit attrocitis in the name of "revenge". Serbs would have been many more justified in revenging for the abomination that the Independent State of Croatia was during Hitler's rule. It is time to pull the plug on such vile comments.
Nina
May 7th, 2012 at 3:59 pm
"many more justified" in hell
Guest
May 7th, 2012 at 10:41 pm
Alexander, I disagree. it is the violence and barbarism inherent in the teachings of the koran that makes muslims such savages. As long as they are in a very small minority they remain peaceful. But as their populations increase they start getting more and more disposed to violence. You can study the history of many different places and you will come to the same conclusion. No doubt, the Bible contains a lot of violence but Christianity had its renaissance long ago. Meanwhile our muslim brethren still have their heads stuck in medieval Arabia following the ramblimgs of a delusional nomad.
B..
May 8th, 2012 at 10:31 pm
I would rather say that this Hail-Victory monster is a bit too eager to forget what his beloved, re-Nazified country of Croatia had been doing to Croatian Serbs back in 1991, with old Croatian Nazi (Ustasha) criminals back from the hiding, and the young Ustasha (supported by various neo-Nazi groups from Western Europe, as documented) merrily looting, lynching and freely terrorizing the Serbs of Croatia.
the romaniac
May 10th, 2012 at 9:48 pm
Great article. Thank you Nebojsa.
Demir
May 14th, 2012 at 9:58 am
Quite true, fascist scum from Australia, Canada and Argentina came to Zagreb via Frankfurt Main Airport from May 1990 onward knowing they could act with impunity from the pigs in Zagreb, terrorising and looting business in Knin…Its said Dutch and German and even polish NeoNazi/footbal hooloigans joined in too.