2007: Colin Powell Warned Us Of "Terror Industrial Complex "

This guy is a true American Patriot.

In 2007 Colin Powell gave an interview to GQ magazine in which he warned of the "Terror Industrial Complex", the Military Industrial Complex's more subtle and beguiling cousin.

www.gq.com...

...(GQ)Isn't the new global threat we face even more dangerous?

What is the greatest threat facing us now? People will say it's terrorism. But are there any terrorists in the world who can change the American way of life or our political system? No. Can they knock down a building? Yes. Can they kill somebody? Yes. But can they change us? No. Only we can change ourselves. So what is the great threat we are facing?

I would approach this differently, in almost Marshall-like terms. What are the great opportunities out there—ones that we can take advantage of? It should not be just about creating alliances to deal with a guy in a cave in Pakistan. It should be about how do we create institutions that keep the world moving down a path of wealth creation, of increasing respect for human rights, creating democratic institutions, and increasing the efficiency and power of market economies? This is perhaps the most effective way to go after terrorists.

(GQ)So you think we are getting too hunkered down and scared?

Yes! We are taking too much counsel of our fears.

This doesn't mean there isn't a terrorist threat. There is a threat. And we should send in military forces when we have a target to deal with. We should also secure our airports, if that makes us safer. But let's welcome every foreign student we can get our hands on. Let's make sure that foreigners come to the Mayo Clinic here, and not the Mayo facility in Dubai or somewhere else. Let's make sure people come to Disney World and not throw them up against the wall in Orlando simply because they have a Muslim name. Let's also remember that this country was created by immigrants and thrives as a result of immigration, and we need a sound immigration policy.

Let's show the world a face of openness and what a democratic system can do. That's why I want to see Guantánamo closed. It's so harmful to what we stand for. We literally bang ourselves in the head by having that place. What are we doing this to ourselves for? Because we're worried about the 380 guys there? Bring them here! Give them lawyers and habeas corpus. We can deal with them. We are paying a price when the rest of the world sees an America that seems to be afraid and is not the America they remember...

Later he was asked to clarify the comments. (Okay, I know it's Keith Olbermann It's all I got.)




It's unfortunate that he wasn't able to be more vocal about his opposition to the Iraq War and all of the manipulations and contrivances leading up to it, a war which we were basically terrorized into condoning.

How is it this view point wasn't more widely distributed before now? Hmmm?

In some circles there is also the concept of "terror marketing", which can be applied to almost any sales pitch. Essentially, it works like this - There is an entire group of people for whom normal advertising and marketing gimmicks do not work (CTers, etc...). But, give those people the "perception" of inside info and scare the hell out of them and you can get them to buy almost anything. Remember Y2k? It worked like a charm then and it still does, just look at any commercial for Gold brokers.

Deny doom people! Or at least don't let it control your mood, actions and decision making, otherwise "they" win - whoever "they" are... terrorists, foreign or domestic or plain old parasitic pitchmen.

[edit on 15-10-2009 by Sergeant Stiletto]

Now I have something interesting to read this afternoon.

Thanks.