"The real war on terror is being waged on the American people, by the American government."
This quote by Nick Turse suggests that the true impact of the "War on Terror," as declared by the U.S. Government after the 9/11 attacks, may not primarily be external against terrorists but internal against the American people. The author implies that certain policies and actions implemented in the name of national security might infringe upon civil liberties, erode privacy rights, and create a culture of fear among citizens, effectively undermining the very values the U.S. government claims to protect.
"Our military's overseas missions have always been cloaked in the language of liberation and self-determination."
This quote by Nick Turse suggests that while U.S. military interventions abroad are often presented as promoting freedom and self-rule, a closer examination may reveal underlying motivations beyond the stated goals of "liberation" and "self-determination". The author implies that the language used to justify these overseas missions can mask more complex geopolitical interests, and it's essential to critically analyze their true purposes.
"War is not just a series of battles or even campaigns, but rather a lengthy and complex struggle that plays out over decades."
This quote by Nick Turse emphasizes that war is more than just a collection of individual battles or campaigns; instead, it is a prolonged and intricate conflict that persists for extended periods, often spanning multiple generations. It suggests that the effects, consequences, and memories of war are deeply entwined in society and culture over the years, making it a complex and ongoing struggle. This perspective underscores the need to understand not only the immediate impacts of war but also its long-term repercussions on people, communities, and nations.
"The history of U.S. military interventions shows us that the road to ruin is paved with good intentions."
This quote by Nick Turse suggests a critical view on the historical impact of U.S. military interventions, implying that despite noble or well-meaning initial objectives (i.e., "good intentions"), these actions often lead to negative, damaging, or destructive outcomes for the countries and people involved. The implication is that the complexities, unforeseen consequences, and systemic issues in other societies may render external military interventions ineffective or even counterproductive, ultimately leading to ruin.
"When the truth is too inconvenient to acknowledge, history becomes a tool for deception rather than understanding."
This quote by Nick Turse highlights the danger of selective or biased historical narratives. When we use history as a means to validate our own perspectives or avoid uncomfortable truths, it ceases to serve its purpose as a tool for learning and growth. Instead, history becomes a manipulative device, employed to deceive rather than enlighten, thus hindering our understanding of the past and preventing us from making informed decisions about the future.
You don't need a digital David Petraeus or a President Bush avatar to distract you from the truth. You don't need to wait decades to have disinformation beamed into your head. You just need a constant stream of misleading information, half truths, and fictions to be promoted, pushed, and peddled until they are accepted as fact.
- Nick Turse
U.S. failures when it comes to the Gulf of Guinea are many: a failure to address the longstanding concerns of a government watchdog agency, a failure to effectively combat piracy despite an outlay of tens of millions of taxpayer dollars, and a failure to confront corrupt African leaders who enable piracy in the first place.
- Nick Turse
The Obama presidency has seen the U.S. military's elite tactical forces increasingly used in an attempt to achieve strategic goals. But with Special Operations missions kept under tight wraps, Americans have little understanding of where their troops are deployed, what exactly they are doing, or what the consequences might be down the road.
- Nick Turse
The United States has been fighting African pirates since the early days of the republic - battles so formative that, among other things, they established a long-standing pattern of dealing with foreign policy problems through armed interventions and also inspired the iconic phrase 'the shores of Tripoli' in the Marine Corps hymn.
- Nick Turse
The thing that really struck me was how many firms that we think of as strictly civilian had ties to the Pentagon. Companies like Apple, Starbucks, Oakley the sunglasses manufacturer. Even Google, and a lot of big corporations like PepsiCo, Colgate-Palmolive, and Nestle, that you don't normally think of as defense contractors.
- Nick Turse
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