Unity4J

Video length 12:39.  Link to video: https://youtu.be/dxmy5YYmMR4

video below:

Most people acknowledge the usually vicious assault of imperial wars that politicians call counter-terrorism strategy has forced developing states to capitulate to America, but the subtle variation in different types of imperial power gives us an even more disturbing picture on the likely coercion of states that aren’t explicitly invaded.

Luckily, we have international relations theories and evidence that allows us to examine where the relationship between America and Ecuador stands right now and why. Is it hard power, soft power, or something in-between?

These theories, the data point to a highly coerced Ecuadorean administration that is choosing to support US imperial policy rather than stand tall, defend its nation’s and previous administration’s historic record on human rights, allowing itself to be used as a proxy for the authoritarianism of America at large. As applied to the specific case against Wikileaks, recognised as a media organisation in the UK, Ecuador has experienced more than a mild wave of coercion from Washington, in all likelihood plied with an ocean of cash and privileges that keep them in line with the will of the senate, military and intelligence agencies.

The first evidence to which I refer is a letter sent this week from Washington to Quito conducted perhaps at the behest of powerful authoritarian politicians, military elites and intelligence agencies and conducted in conjunction with elected representatives. They have so far made complaints that the hotly contested, protested embargo on Assange’s communications was lifted after six months and expect that the US ought to be able to determine the outcome of Assange’s fate. Looking at the significant demands to overturn Assange to the “proper authorities” using resolute language gives us a rare look under the imperial hood to see the true underlying dynamics of bilateral power, to understand that in all truth, the balance of power is not equal.

The letter reveals that Washington is extremely concerned to capture Assange regardless of the ostensible sovereignty of the Ecuadorean administration in its own territory. Democrats and Republicans alike say they are unanimously united in backing the previous US administration’s belligerence in virtually every battle fought. Moreover, corporate, military, intelligence agents’ support pertain irrespective of whether the electorate support, or know anything about, their authoritarian agenda. Incumbents are often rewarded with total power by a democratic election process corrupted by the corporate and military bankroll while earnest representatives acting in the common good are punished for their principled stances. As a result of the corruption of the electoral college bi-partisan support for imperial agendas has rocketed to galactic levels.

This data may tempt you in to concluding that diplomacy is the main issue. If co-option by persuasion is the main bi-partisan strategy, then sustained campaigns to make Ecuador enact US policy seems the prevalent strategy.

But this would be wrong. That’s because of the role bribery plays and because of how stooges are chosen and paid to enact US agendas and subvert the popular will in these troubled, neo-imperial times.

Stooges exhibit independent judgement and behaviour on the surface. They deliberate in national parliaments and hold ballots, seemingly independently, often giving the illusion candidates have a choice. They also lobby for the US backed result. Candidates who lead by example and do not conform to imperial policy are disadvantaged because they do not curry favour and are excluded from the most powerful public offices. Gifts from Goldman Sachs and the US government totalling just short of a billion USD show that, beyond persuading with words, Washington actively bribes Latin America to do its bidding. This suggests that by coopting national leaders, who in turn coopt national governments and democratic assemblies by hidden lobbying, the corporate and military elite run Quito from Washington through shadow networks.

With human heart, with wisdom’s head

The soul from which resistance bled

Attends to heroic, noble deed

Hath planted revolution’s seed

Sees the hour of earth’s need

Fights so the oppressed be freed

But tyrant moves to interdict

And cull the bird in majestic flight

Still his wings burn brilliant, bright

A beacon in darkling, demon night

The factory of lies ever churns

Its propaganda, but people learn

For truth, veracity ever yearn

Yield enlightenment free thought earn

The flame of truth torch tyrants’ yarns

Dull its illusion, pale and wan

Orwell with his magic on

Hails new dawn of freedom’s sun

See him riot, see him run

Outwit empire, fast as a gun

Time whirls on, as his censors rise

Bar and barricade truth’s skies

For him my heart is heavy sighs

For him good grieves, generosity cries

Because the state, it ever tries

To war with Peace forever with lies

But his lion heart uprise

‘Gainst cruel and petty hell, sings high

For Heaven for he has wanted more

Than sooty, oppressive, obsidian war

His efforts destined to legend, lore

War is pain truth is the cure

The people sing, uprise, uproar

Out the passion for freedom pour

Murder’s truth on telescreens

A truth to silence tyrants’ preens

As he, eerily serene

Espouse rancid myths on which mass weans

Truth of murder kill the sheen

Of a “Just War,” an unjust regime

The cogs of empire turn, resist

The truth which blows with superior fist

An effort by the good gods kissed

Peaceniks kiss as empire hiss

Diktat quell not a dream and wish

Of more than march of oil and cash

To bloat the man, his bloody sash

No more by lies, beguiled, defiled

He heard the war howl in the sooty night

Dread in his guts at the meaning of the sight

Of all the dead that he ever did see

Going one by one when they ought live free

On they pass, the millions

Sacrificed for devil’s trillions

Brothers, sisters all, from first to last

Peace on their mast as on, they passed

Friends who Loved as they grafted, played

Hearts shame a tyrant’s stone and staid

That lusts to bury Peace in the bed

No Love from that cold rock bled

He, the hero with handsome heart

Sought to vanquish what hell impart

A long, tough fight he has fought to bring

Peace to Earth, to hear her sing

On golden wing aspiring

Grafting, never tiring

A soul and heart of brazen fire

Burnished with colours of desire

Vision suffice to be sung to lyres

Sings end of war, can love no more

And for that day he grafts, aspires