Monthly Archives: January 2024

Our ultimate goal is to prevent crimes against humanity from being committed and funded using the hard-earned money of individuals like us, through taxes.

Observing the unparalleled US support for Israel in its genocide against Palestine leaves us perplexed. We may delve into the story of the US administration, seeking to understand why this has occurred, only to uncover the pervasive influence of lobbying. Digging deeper, we can grasp the extent to which lobbyists hold control in our democracy, realizing that it can be swayed by monetary power.

✴️ In Our Democracy, Does the Government Represent the People? 

Benjamin I. Page (Professor of Decision Making at Northwestern University) and Martin Gilens (Professor of Public Policy at the UCLA) showed the impact of the systematic corruption in the United States and how this led to “exacerbated inequality, enriching corporations and the wealthy while leaving ordinary citizens to fend for themselves.”

They concluded:

“Multivariate analysis indicates that economic elites and organized groups representing business interests have substantial independent impacts on U.S. government policy, while average citizens and mass-based interest groups have little or no independent influence. ”

Check their article in Cambridge press and Book (see resources).

✴️ The legalized corruption: Economic-Elite Domination

If you simply trace the flow of money in American politics, you can expose the sources of power that enable corruption to flourish. The role of campaign contributions, dark money, and Super PACs in influencing elections and policymaking is beyond comprehensive. Military-industrial complex, Corporations and wealthy individuals utilize their financial influence to shape public opinion and control the political narrative, creating vulnerabilities that serve as fertile ground for exploitation by various groups, coalitions, and ideologies, including Zionists, who seek to fulfill their objectives. 

Check opensecrets.org  (see resources).

And … what can you do if corruption is “legalized” within the country?!

✴️ Key Questions: Givers and Takers

Corruption involves both a giver and a taker, and for the purpose of this series, we will focus on the foreign policies of the United States but this really applies elsewhere. Here are some key questions and answers to consider:

  • Who determines the policies? The responsibility lies with the president, administration, and the Senate.
  • What drives their motivations? Their primary goal is to retain power and secure re-election.
  • How can their hopes be exploited? By making the path to re-election costly, they are forced to engage in extensive fundraising to finance their campaigns. For instance, a House representative has just two years before the next re-election, and due to the high cost of campaigns, they may need to raise more than $5,000 daily. Compare the difficulty of collecting such funds from a crowd to the ease of a businessman offering a $1 million to pass a specific resolution or law. Which option appears more enticing for easy fundraising?

✴️ There is one more key question:

While financial resources and securing power can be utilized to buy temporary loyalty, the long-term costs are likely to be excessive. Thus, I contemplate alternative practices that sustain unwavering loyalty among politicians and others. 

Drawing upon psychology, it is evident that people are often motivated by a combination of hope and fear. So, what about feat? Could lobbyists be employing blackmail or other illicit methods, such as capturing incriminating footage of politicians accepting bribes or engaging in similar misconduct?

This leads to one more question …

  • How to ultimately enslave them? By maintaining meticulous records, inviting them to influential social gatherings, making them feel important and valued, understanding their desires and vulnerabilities, exploiting those vulnerabilities, and documenting any illegal activities they may engage in. 

✴️ Corruption drivers – The military-industrial complex (MIC) 

There are multiple interconnected components and influencers that boost the size and impact of corruption. The biggest by far is MIC.

MIC was popularized by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1961, and refers to the relationship between a country’s military, defense industry, and political establishment.

“In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.” Eisenhower warned.

Concerns exist that the military-industrial complex may promote policies detrimental to national interests and democracy, potentially fueling an arms race. 

In the United States, the military-industrial complex comprises individuals and organizations that significantly influence defense policies and military spending. 

Some key individuals and organizations involved in the military-industrial complex in the US are:

  1. Defense contractors: Companies like Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Raytheon and Northrop Grumman are major players in the US military-industrial complex. They are responsible for designing, manufacturing, and selling weapons and military equipment to the US government.
  2. Government officials: High-ranking officials in the Department of Defense, the military, and the White House play a crucial role in shaping defense policies and deciding on military spending.
  3. Lobbyists: other organizations employ lobbyists to influence government decisions on defense policies and spending. These lobbyists often have close relationships with government officials and can significantly impact policy decisions. Here fits the zionists.
  4. Congress: Members of Congress, particularly those on defense-related committees, are responsible for approving the defense budget and overseeing the Department of Defense. They can also influence defense policies and spending through legislation.
  5. Think tanks and research organizations: Their work can influence government decisions on military spending and defense policies.

✴️ Just imagine for a minute: 

A world where lobbyists focused on certain ideologies knew that the greatest country in the world can be hijacked through an open gate of corruption; aka MIC. As immune and mighty the US can seem to the outside world, this corruption gate makes it infinitely vulnerable to the control of insiders and outsiders without any voice from its population whatsoever.

✴️ Think like a Zionist 

Stepping into the mindset of Zionists and colonizers, let’s explore how corruption becomes a means to achieve ambitious goals. We have enough information out there (check resources) to help analyze their strategies of leveraging power, manipulating narratives, and exploiting vulnerabilities to further their interests. By understanding their tactics, we can better comprehend how corruption is exploited to serve their agenda, and in turn, work towards dismantling these systems of exploitation to our best abilities, our voice and vote.

Now let’s play the role of zionists: 

We have a colonialism mindset. So, we should work tirelessly over long periods to start a mission of controlling or greatly influencing the arms of MIC. If we don’t do it, someone else is going to. Let’s help the US in the middle east as their biggest ally and let’s bring their army to fight our fights and enrich our MIC partners, it is a win-win for the elite. To organize this effort, we will put our intelligence services into this mission and establish action committees to fulfill our mission. (check articles on that in resources)

Additionally, let’s also do something about the public, so when our name is mentioned people look at us with sympathy and love. What can we do about that?

  • Media: let’s use propaganda and control the narrative. Anyone criticizing us we will use our power and our organized work to attack publishers until they submit to our narrative.
  • Universities: establish solid students groups effort and align them to the mission. Empower them with tools and narratives to defeat any opposition.
  • Corporations: build ties, we need those at our side. Be strategic so they can lobby with us when needed.

Let’s make sure we generously fund our intelligence and ensure they hire people across walks of life to fulfill our mission of propaganda. Sometimes we will need to partner with those who can help us get records of the elite committing crimes, so we can blackmail them if they ever think about opposing us.

This is a lot of work, but with a mission and focus we can achieve it. Let’s always remember that goals justify the means. Let’s utilize the corruption and loopholes to enslave them.

✴️ PACs

You can find a wealth of information about super PACs (Political Action Committee. There are multiple Pro-Israel ones such as AIPAC. See their activities and read about their influence. Check even some of their tweets where they publicly announce funding to take down some of their opposition. It is not just a hidden corruption, it is public and legalized!

Check the resources, there you will see numerous literatures and documentaries to start educating yourself and others.

✴️ Actions to combat the mother of all evil – corruption!

Numerous activists and organizations are well aware of these vulnerabilities and are actively working towards passing resolutions to close the legal loopholes that enable corruption. However, it is obvious that they do not have the power of media propaganda the corruption machine has, so many of us have never heard of these efforts, let alone comprehended how we can contribute to supporting them. 

Knowledge is power – Therefore, a crucial component of this article and series is to provide the necessary information and resources to combat corruption. Check some organizations in the resources.

✴️ Do not be complicit

We should always reflect on our complicity and its role in sustaining corrupt systems. We should reflect on the reasons behind our inaction. We need to TRULY believe in the importance of collective action and the role of individuals in challenging the status quo. 

By raising awareness, advocating for systemic changes, and holding those in power accountable, we can strive towards a more equitable and just society that is less susceptible to exploitation by Zionists and other vested interests.

This post barely scratched the surface and provided references to delve into the vulnerabilities created by legalized corruption in the US and how Zionists exploit these vulnerabilities to achieve their goals. 

It is crucial to continue the dialogue, take action, and advocate for systemic changes to address these vulnerabilities and create a society that is more resistant to corruption and exploitation.

Back to where we started:

“To repair our democracy, Page and Gilens argue, we must change the way we choose candidates and conduct our elections, reform our governing institutions, and curb the power of money in politics. By doing so, we can reduce polarization and gridlock, address pressing challenges, and enact policies that truly reflect the interests of average Americans.”

Get involved and don’t be complicit! Learn more to change the future!

✴️ Resources:

On corruption

How does corruption affect you?

Who Rules America? | Complete Series | ENDEVR Documentary

Corruption playlist (created this playlist to add some videos on the topic – plan to keep updating)

Corruption is Legal in America

Track money in politics:

https://www.opensecrets.org

Ideas and literature to combat corruption

https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691207537/systemic-corruption

Important organization – Represent US

Research about significance of people

https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/D/bo58174159.html

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/perspectives-on-politics/article/testing-theories-of-american-politics-elites-interest-groups-and-average-citizens/62327F513959D0A304D4893B382B992B#article

Military-industrial complex:

Military–industrial complexWikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Military–industrial_c…

Eisenhower’s “Military-Industrial Complex” Speech Origins and Significance

Who Rules America: The Rise of The Military-Industrial Complex 

Who Rules America? | Complete Series

Documentary 

The Illusion of Democracy | Who Really Controls our Lives

On Zionists and corruption

A Match Made in Hell: Israel and the Military Industrial Complex

The Occupation of the American mind

http://occupationmovie.org

US Lobby – a must watch series

part-1/4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lSjXhMUVKE

part-2/4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XytkI7afHcQ 

part-3/4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mm-Dm4pO0xY

part-4/4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1OgxfCT044

Book: The Israel lobby

Epstein 

Rumours Jeffrey Epstein Worked For Israel Won’t Go Away

The war on Gaza resumed killing more civilians and I hope many intellectuals had the chance to watch and read and realize the amount of damage and bullying the Israel did and still doing with the full support of the US not just to Palestine, but to the whole humanity. I’m not exaggerating here. What happened has put to the surface the hypocrisy and corruption of values we have in our country and in western countries overall. It is getting us back to the thoughts that those in power can bully and get what they want and don’t dare to challenge them.

Is this sustainable? Do we feel comfortable using weapons to emphasize hate between nations instead of diplomacy? Is the settlers colonialism still running in the blood of those who believe they are more supreme that other humans?

Something is wrong and needs to be fixed. It does not help that everyone stick to their desk and tasks and feel better about their careers while millions of people are not able to find clean water, being bombarded by bullies or being surrounded by people in denial.

At the end of the day I see this as a deep and big war between politicians who run high level national/international decisions vs intellectuals who have smart critical minds and immune to propaganda.

You can rely on intellectuals to use their analytical tools outside work to participate in a meaningful impact.

You can rely on intellectuals to have the courage of speaking up and raising awareness to those who are less immune to propaganda and those in denial; the majority of populations.

Intellectuals are physicians, scientists, engineers, lawyers, political scientists … etc

Politicians are supposed to be intellectuals, some of them are. However, the corruption and lobbying we have turns most politicians into focusing on actions that helps them get re-elected, regardless of the long term goals. As an example, you may have heard Obama couple of weeks ago talking about the rights of Palestinians to have their independent country. However, you question why he did nothing on that when he was in power. Many similar examples.

The irrational support that US provides to Israel no matter how much bullying it does should trigger intellectuals to think more: what else does not make sense? Where does our tax money go? Why in Silicon Valley we have terrible roads and pavements although we pay the most amount of taxes to the federal government? Why the public education is bad? Why housing is not affordable here for most people?

After asking those questions (or many more) just take one problem and use your skills to dig and analyze, then raise awareness – expose lies and promote truth.

We have enough intellectuals to defeat propaganda. Where are just lazy or careless although deep in our minds we know that if we took no action we will be deceiving and dishonest to the rising generations. Being active on the other hand leaves a legacy and impact the lasts even after we get buried.

Be an activist today. You won’t regret. On the contrary it helps you know and lobby with more intellectuals who decided to take their skills to the next level and see the world for what it really is. The bigger picture as we like to call it.

Intellectuals in politics play roles like no others. Just Google “intellectuals in politics” and enjoy thought provoking history and papers. I will add more in future posts.

Previous posts and resources here:

https://ashmouny.com/tag/free_palestine/

Watch these 2 minutes by Dr. Gabor Mate; a holocaust survivor that changed position – like many Jews – to defend the rights of Palestinians.

I have so far witnessed many people in protests, civic engagements to pass ceasefire resolutions, public awareness campaigns, lectures by JVP … etc.

Although the Israeli atrocities against Palestinians goes decades into the past, this particular time is different. Why?

Couple of reasons:

1. the impact on Israeli civilians from Oct 7 atrocities (everyone should sympathize with that), brought many people to learn that this atrocity is a tiny fraction of atrocities Israelis has been doing to Palestinians since 1948.

2. the reaction from Israeli side and atrocities especially against women and children are far more vicious.

3. The lack of planning on Israeli regime and unwillingness to use diplomacy.

4. The shocking and shaking US response makes people rethink of the “American values” as pure marketing while the opposite being committed. The surprising bias to one side instead of pushing both parties to negotiations.

5. The awareness about the legal cracks in our democracy that makes it cheap to buy by lobbyists and the wealthy.

6. The continuous lies by mainstream media and bias created mistrust.

7. The journalists and social media that can help us see this war and victims live. Hard to ignore.

8. The miserable/useless role of UN and security council against US veto to suppress majority.

9. people observing corruption everywhere and this drives them to realize the importance of civic engagements.

How to get out of this vicious cycles? Please start learning about the issue from academic debates and books authored by historians and political scientists (see previous posts)

If you decided to participate, speak up and improve awareness, then know that you are not alone.

Get out of your comfort zone by defending humanity and protecting it from corruption. The journey starts with you and me speaking up and doing our part to push political powers to do the right things. We should follow our integrity and intellect as human beings.

Our careers are meaningless in a world driven by bullies. We can just invest 2% of our time on a humanitarian cause. The best part is that you will get to know some of the purest souls that motivate your whole life journey and the generations to come.

LinkedIn is the best platform to get more intellectuals to be aware.

More resources here:

https://ashmouny.com/tag/free_palestine/

One thing that gives me hope in this country is its intellectuals and research/educational institutions. You can listen there to meaningful conversations and genuine analysis to understand issues in depth. Those are the adults in the room and wish that our politicians are like that, but they are not.

This panel discussion (4 days ago) at Harvard Business School is a must watch for everyone seeking peace. It talks about timing choice of Oct 7 event, background, what peaceful negotiations happened in the past, stressed that there is no violent solution to this crisis, and other important comments about both sides of conflict.

I guess the conclusion, which I’m 100% in agreement with is to have adults with good intentions sit and negotiate. We can get stuck, but that does not mean intellectuals give up on trying to seek peace.

I wish myself to join and listen to conversations between Palestinians and Israelis rising generations aspiring for peace based on genuine understanding of the past to learn from and to move forward with good intentions and actions. If only media propaganda and bad biases give them a break and let us follow their path. The path decided by rising generations. I’m sure there will be no killing of civilians.

If you ask me, my wish is that solution comes to one country from the river to the sea where all faiths and ideologies live in peace just like how it was before 1948. However, that is not my choice.

The point of this post is to emphasize that we really need to have those critical conversations with mindful people from all sides. And also to know that it is going to be a long road full of obstacles, but it maybe worth it.

Have a great working week everyone!

We are guilty of not speaking up about October 6 events/conditions and using all civic engagements possible to defend the rights of Palestinians against the brutal occupation. That is true in Gaza (open air prison) and true in the West Bank (massacres and detention of civilians without any fair trials). This operation of ethnic cleansing has not stopped since 1948 as mentioned in Ilan Pappe’s book.

We are also guilty of not having enough conversation with Israeli population through all means possible. Most of those people were born after 1948, and only those who specialize in history or human rights get to see the out of the box context. Otherwise , the majority are unaware or in denial of what is happening (this is also true of Americans and many other nations). They seem to be receiving propaganda and twisted history in their education. Besides, life is good, so like most the population of planet earth “why should I care?”. That was a conclusion from Gideon Levy. Perhaps we should find ways to have conversations with open minded people.

After seeing “Israelism” documentary and reading couple of articles/books from genuine Israeli scholars, I can tell that the truth will never be buried and there is hope to change the perception of the masses in denial in Israel. But if their intellectuals cannot accept the truth-seeking challenge about history, their government and leaders agenda, then it is a long way before we all realize the losses.

Since October 7 events, It has been interesting to see the amount of propaganda and tension all over news and social media. It is also scary to see how much people believe in propaganda and false marketing. It is also scary to see the amount of hatred spreading. I believe it is going to get much worse moving forward. I have to say that I’m shocked and worried to know that >80% of Israel population support the crimes done by IDF. Yet at the same time they want to revolt against the failures of their leaders.

Nonetheless, getting overwhelmed by the misinformation/propaganda over screens and social media is a signal and alarm to intellectuals that we have a serious obligation to explore, question things, establish meaningful debates, civic engagement, and repurpose our critical thinking and other skills that makes us successful in our careers. We use them to filter lies and unreasonable biases and present solid arguments to the masses. We also have to play devils advocate to see the other sides.

Also, If someone convinced you that speaking up about crimes against humanity is not professional, it is far from truth and far from the integrity required for success in your career.

We also need to have a thick skin. So as things get worse, Stay strong!

My advice to myself is:

1. When you use credible resources, people can change their minds.

2. Always look at the majority of the population as people to sympathize with. Some people are victims of their own media brainwash .. some people are victims of their miserable daily life conditions. So, we have to take the context very carefully and broadly.

3. One has to understand that media labels applied to a whole population does not help any meaningful discussion.

4. No country or government is above criticism, and it does not help to start labeling people as “antisemitic” or “anti American” or “anti anything” to shutdown debate and free speech.

I hope to focus on the root of all these disasters and in my mind it is how the US is ruled. The obsession of the powerful and wealthy about liberal hegemony and concentration of more wealth/power.

The claimed US democracy is partially sound but it has been a wide cover for the wealthy in power to create more wealth. Unfortunately this is not a disease of just US democracy, it is everywhere. That to be continued…