Exclusive: US empire could collapse at any time, Pulitzer winner tells Raw Story

profit · 12-17-2010, 11:25 AM

Quote:

America's military and economic empire could collapse at any time, but predicting the precise day, week or month of its potential demise is unattainable, according to a former New York Times war correspondent who spoke with Raw Story.

"The when and how is very dangerous to predict because there's always some factor that blindsides you that you didn't expect," Pulitzer-winning journalist Chris Hedges said in an exclusive interview. "It doesn't look good. But exactly how it plays out and when it plays out, having covered disintegrating societies, it's impossible to tell."

He explained that he learned this lesson as events unfolded around him in the fall of 1989. Then, members of the opposition to the Soviet Empire told him that they predicted travel across the Berlin Wall separating East from West Germany would open within the year.

"Within a few hours, the wall didn't exist," he said.

Hedges was one of roughly 135 activists who participated in an act of civil disobedience that resulted in their arrests outside the White House yesterday, even as Obama was unveiling a new report on progress of the war in Afghanistan.

Speaking to Raw Story on Wednesday night, he said the signs of US collapse are plain to see and compared the country's course through Afghanistan to Soviet Russia's.

"We're losing [the war in Afghanistan] in the same way the Red Army lost it," he said. "It's exactly the same configuration where we sort of control the urban centers where 20 percent of the population lives. The rest of the country where 80 percent of the Afghans live is either in the hands of the Taliban or disputed."

One day after this interview was conducted, reports hit the global media noting the CIA's warning to President Obama, that the Pakistan-supported Taliban could still regain control of the country.

Hedges predicted that President Obama's war report released Thursday would "contradict not only [US] intelligence reports but everything else that is coming out of Afghanistan."

His prediction came startlingly true: the CIA's own assessment was said to stand in striking contrast with President Obama's report. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, however, insisted that the US controlled more territory in Afghanistan than it did a year ago.

"Foreigners will not walk the streets of Kabul because of kidnapping, and journalists regularly meet Taliban officials in Kabul because the whole apparatus is so porous and corrupt," he said.

'A corporate coup d'état in slow motion'

Hedges said he attended the protest and planned to get arrested because he is against the corporate powers that have enveloped the nation.

"We've undergone a corporate coup d'état in slow motion," he said. "Our public education system has been gutted. Our infrastructure is corroding and collapsing. Unless we begin to physically resist, they are going to solidify neo-feudalism in this country."

"If we think that Obama is bad, watch the next two years because these corporate forces have turned their back on him," Hedges warned.

Hedges, author of "Death of the Liberal Class," said that his vision of America is one with a functioning social democracy, which stands in stark contrast to the nihilism of the corporate state.

"American workers, as they are repeatedly told, will have to become competitive with prison labor in China," he said. "That's where we're headed, and all the pillars of the liberal establishment are complicit in this."

"At least if you get sick in the UK, you don't go bankrupt or die," he added.

Hedges said that another pressure point is the US dollar, which he pointed out had been dropped by Russia and China in favor of modified ruble/renminbi exchanges.

"A few more deals like that, and our currency becomes junk," he said.

Hedges continued, "As long as we have relative stability, these lunatic fringe movements can be held at bay, but if we don't undertake serious structural reform, which we're not doing, then it is inevitable that we will come to a tremendous crisis - economic and political as well as environmental."

With editing by Stephen C. Webster.

Exclusive: US empire could collapse at any time, Pulitzer winner tells Raw Story | Raw Story

well now that pulitzer prize winners are saying the same thing as "those crazy people" maybe the stupid people will come out of their fluoridated hazes?

well i can hope, right?

(infowars.com, prisonplanet.com - get the real news guys. listen to the aj show...)

PEACE AND LOVE

José · 12-17-2010, 11:52 AM

derp

Bearsy · 12-17-2010, 11:55 AM

^

my_scatterheart · 12-17-2010, 11:57 AM

It all comes down to fucking fluoride with you, huh

profit · 12-17-2010, 12:00 PM

wow- sage you were right.

profit · 12-17-2010, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by my_scatterheart

It all comes down to fucking fluoride with you, huh

and no, it does not.

**SageTree** · 12-17-2010, 12:04 PM

* move to P & CA..... *

farmergiles · 12-17-2010, 12:12 PM

US global hegemony is on the way out, 'tis true.

**SageTree** · 12-17-2010, 12:28 PM

SHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

The Rev · 12-17-2010, 12:36 PM

Yes, the empire is dying, in much the same way as the British Empire died. To say that corporations are going to turn the US into a dystopian nightmare where all the workers are essentially slaves, etc. is just fear mongering. The people still hold the power, though it may not seem so. A few cannot rule multitudes without cooperation, and there's a limit to what those multitudes will put up with before they withdraw it.

The Rev

profit · 12-17-2010, 01:24 PM

the empire is already dead, and we have been blinded by the bright lights of 21st century society and american culture.

i agree rev, the end result of the coming changes rests on the masses. i do not know, though, that the masses are in a position to fight back, most are apathetic- only caring about sunday football games and that royal family marriage in England. the media is mind controlling everyone into apathetic, sub-conscious submission- and as can be seen with the tsa (TSS) and their rapedowns, a dehumanizing conditioning going on that teaches people to submit in the most humiliating way imaginable.

on the other side of my mind i hope with deep hope in the bottom of my heart that there will be a big enough movement on the side of love and liberty to wake everyone up, and change the world in a way the greatest people of history have only dreamed of.

stoneric · 12-17-2010, 01:25 PM

It's a matter of what one considers a slave. When you run out of choices you're pretty much a slave.

Grieves · 12-17-2010, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Rev

Yes, the empire is dying, in much the same way as the British Empire died. To say that corporations are going to turn the US into a dystopian nightmare where all the workers are essentially slaves, etc. is just fear mongering. The people still hold the power, though it may not seem so. A few cannot rule multitudes without cooperation, and there's a limit to what those multitudes will put up with before they withdraw it.

The Rev

bullet point a day in your life and then tell me that you believe that tripe...

Dr. Nick Nasty · 12-17-2010, 04:51 PM

Empire as A Way of life always weakens the character of a people morally and intellectually to the point that they let elites rule them pretty ruthlessly, but when the bill comes due and the regular folks have to pay it, they tend to get radicalized...

stoneric · 12-17-2010, 05:00 PM

So what's the hold up?

Ego Tripping · 12-19-2010, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by profit

get the real news guys. listen to the aj show...)

Alex Jones is a Christian nut waiting and wishing everyday for the Apocalypse, since that would precipitate the Second Coming. He's not news, he's sensationalist and he has his own agenda, as well.

As far as the article goes, I think I've read this article 10x over the past 8 years. Granted, its clear there is a collapse/crumbling effect happening to the US, these predictions don't really help people focus on any kind of solution.

stoneric · 12-19-2010, 11:39 AM

Their predictions are based on us staying the course. The solution would be us not staying the course.

Ego Tripping · 12-19-2010, 11:49 AM

Granted, but these 'predictions' have remain unchanged for nearly a decade yet are always telling us its right around the bend.

As I said, I'm not arguing that there's a clear problem, but I do wonder if its going to play out like anything we've ever seen. Furthermore, perhaps its being played out currently but nobody is noticing since we're too busy making 'predictions'.

As you said...whats the hold up?

The Rev · 12-19-2010, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grieves

bullet point a day in your life and then tell me that you believe that tripe...

I'm not sure what you mean by that, Grieves, but here's a good example of what I'm talking about:

Bolivia's Water War Victory

The Rev

John F. Kerry · 12-19-2010, 10:20 PM

i hate self fulfilling prophecies.

i really think if like 99% of america would just wake the fuck up we could be back in the late 40s again and have a brand new 2 generation explosion of prosperity- which the whole world will enjoy along with us because we used our years as the "empire" to, unlike the british, or romans before us, to create an international system that would be at least in theory fair and equal and allow people from anywhere to play the world market game and partake in the benefits of it.

the american "empire" that you all or some of you seem so happy to have end, actually wont end, because unlike all the other empires before, no new "hegemon" will take our place- we will relinquish our position peacefully to a broad international order of free democracies (as we have been slowly doing for years now).

12-17-2010, 11:57 AM	#4 (permalink)
my_scatterheart Today, I am alive. Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: NJ Posts: 3,553 Thanks: 1,487 Thanked 3,328 Times in 1,870 Posts	It all comes down to fucking fluoride with you, huh __________________ Be mindful even if your mind is full. -J. De La Vega

12-17-2010, 12:00 PM	#5 (permalink)
profit restore the republic Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,255 Thanks: 818 Thanked 357 Times in 237 Posts	wow- sage you were right. __________________ Cowardice asks the question - is it safe? Expediency asks the question - is it politic? Vanity asks the question - is it popular? But conscience asks the question - is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular; but one must take it because it is right. - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. follow https://twitter.com/#!/curtiswm - sub http://www.youtube.com/user/66sicksfishstix

12-17-2010, 12:04 PM	#7 (permalink)
SageTree ~Kalyāṇa-mitrā~ Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: In Love Posts: 23,414 Blog Entries: 26 Thanks: 13,070 Thanked 6,769 Times in 4,664 Posts	* move to P & CA..... * __________________ "What's oppressive is letting your life be confined by old definitions of what everything is." -Zen Meister my_scatterheart YaHooka is.... Cannabis lovers from around the world pulling up a comfy chair, picking up a vaporizer, a bong, a brownie, a pipe, or a joint, getting high, stoned, buzzed or healthy. Uniting our minds in conversation...While Portraying a Positive Image of marijuana and marijuana users to the world. Treat your fellow YaHookans with kindness,respect and tolerance.

12-17-2010, 12:12 PM	#8 (permalink)
farmergiles Yahookan Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sick of the hatred and the lies Posts: 7,807 Thanks: 2,285 Thanked 3,750 Times in 2,554 Posts	US global hegemony is on the way out, 'tis true. __________________ Cultivate a stoic calmness *Fuck the Monkeys* Every Kind of Vice

12-17-2010, 12:28 PM	#9 (permalink)
SageTree ~Kalyāṇa-mitrā~ Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: In Love Posts: 23,414 Blog Entries: 26 Thanks: 13,070 Thanked 6,769 Times in 4,664 Posts	SHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! __________________ "What's oppressive is letting your life be confined by old definitions of what everything is." -Zen Meister my_scatterheart YaHooka is.... Cannabis lovers from around the world pulling up a comfy chair, picking up a vaporizer, a bong, a brownie, a pipe, or a joint, getting high, stoned, buzzed or healthy. Uniting our minds in conversation...While Portraying a Positive Image of marijuana and marijuana users to the world. Treat your fellow YaHookans with kindness,respect and tolerance.

12-17-2010, 11:52 AM	#2 (permalink)
José YaHookan Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 3,372 Thanks: 62 Thanked 149 Times in 74 Posts	derp

12-17-2010, 12:36 PM	#10 (permalink)
The Rev Clear Light Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: In my head, somewhere. Posts: 17,867 Thanks: 5,019 Thanked 5,421 Times in 2,865 Posts	Yes, the empire is dying, in much the same way as the British Empire died. To say that corporations are going to turn the US into a dystopian nightmare where all the workers are essentially slaves, etc. is just fear mongering. The people still hold the power, though it may not seem so. A few cannot rule multitudes without cooperation, and there's a limit to what those multitudes will put up with before they withdraw it. The Rev __________________ Budforce - My Friend August 29, 1973- May 25, 2012

12-17-2010, 01:24 PM	#11 (permalink)
profit restore the republic Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,255 Thanks: 818 Thanked 357 Times in 237 Posts	the empire is already dead, and we have been blinded by the bright lights of 21st century society and american culture. i agree rev, the end result of the coming changes rests on the masses. i do not know, though, that the masses are in a position to fight back, most are apathetic- only caring about sunday football games and that royal family marriage in England. the media is mind controlling everyone into apathetic, sub-conscious submission- and as can be seen with the tsa (TSS) and their rapedowns, a dehumanizing conditioning going on that teaches people to submit in the most humiliating way imaginable. on the other side of my mind i hope with deep hope in the bottom of my heart that there will be a big enough movement on the side of love and liberty to wake everyone up, and change the world in a way the greatest people of history have only dreamed of. __________________ Cowardice asks the question - is it safe? Expediency asks the question - is it politic? Vanity asks the question - is it popular? But conscience asks the question - is it right? And there comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular; but one must take it because it is right. - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. follow https://twitter.com/#!/curtiswm - sub http://www.youtube.com/user/66sicksfishstix

12-17-2010, 01:25 PM	#12 (permalink)
stoneric bougeman Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 5,646 Thanks: 704 Thanked 1,512 Times in 1,067 Posts	It's a matter of what one considers a slave. When you run out of choices you're pretty much a slave.

12-17-2010, 04:51 PM	#14 (permalink)
Dr. Nick Nasty Reactionary Radical Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: New York/New Jersey Metro Wasteland Posts: 1,049 Blog Entries: 5 Thanks: 653 Thanked 364 Times in 232 Posts	Empire as A Way of life always weakens the character of a people morally and intellectually to the point that they let elites rule them pretty ruthlessly, but when the bill comes due and the regular folks have to pay it, they tend to get radicalized... __________________ "I do not wish any mass at all, but honest men only, lovely, sweet, accomplished women only."-Emma Goldman

12-17-2010, 05:00 PM	#15 (permalink)
stoneric bougeman Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 5,646 Thanks: 704 Thanked 1,512 Times in 1,067 Posts	So what's the hold up?

12-19-2010, 11:39 AM	#17 (permalink)
stoneric bougeman Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 5,646 Thanks: 704 Thanked 1,512 Times in 1,067 Posts	Their predictions are based on us staying the course. The solution would be us not staying the course.

12-19-2010, 11:49 AM	#18 (permalink)
Ego Tripping Are you in? Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 13,468 Thanks: 229 Thanked 665 Times in 443 Posts	Granted, but these 'predictions' have remain unchanged for nearly a decade yet are always telling us its right around the bend. As I said, I'm not arguing that there's a clear problem, but I do wonder if its going to play out like anything we've ever seen. Furthermore, perhaps its being played out currently but nobody is noticing since we're too busy making 'predictions'. As you said...whats the hold up? __________________ God appears, and God is light, To those poor souls who dwell in night; But does a human form display To those who dwell in realms of day.

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