A few days ago I mentioned that Chalmers Johnson appeared on C-Span’s Book TV last weekend. Unfortunately, that interview cannot be viewed online, only purchased. I suppose it says something of the times we live in that C-Span featured then archived for free viewing their interview of Victor Davis Hanson, a military historian/revisionist who defined the drive into Baghdad as a ‘moral mission’, the nuking of Japan as necessary to stop the holocaust [?], and dismissed a call-in who observed that neoconservatives have influenced the Bush administration as an agent of unfounded conspiracy theorists indicative of the ‘new anti-semitism’. Onward imperialist soldiers, be patient, he advised. History will vindicate you. It’s interesting that his type of demagoguery was attended by a rapt interviewer in contrast to Johnson’s mediator who interrupted a criticism of George W. Bush with the disclaimer, this author’s views do not necessarily represent the host, to which Johnson quickly responded, well then, in the interest of the free exchange of ideas here at the Los Angeles Public Library! Indeed.
I mention Johnson’s appearance again as we approach a weekend of antiwar marches protesting a year of military occupation in Iraq because his comment regarding Arundhati Roy ties in to my previously stated position that these demonstrations are a waste of time. Johnson noted that Roy has the ability to effect change with a simple phrase and pointed approvingly to her speech at the Mumbai World Social Forum, 16 January 2004, where she called for a global boycott:
I couldn’t agree more. So it heartened me to see Press Action feature an article that urges utilisation of this type of activism and I recommend you go there, read it now, and pass the message along.