Power of Nightmares

I watched part one last night and the other two this morning. The novel 1984, which I cryptically alluded to last night, isn't an historic fiction after all - it's here and now, paranoia alive and well. The Orwellian nightmare, written in 1949, decries a totalitarian government bent on total manipulation. The ironic, karmic twist, worthy of the best Twilight Zone denouement, is that the evil regime was modelled after the Soviet Union...but is now true of the Neo-Cons.

Another chilling little tidbit is that the video player setup allows the camera and microphone to remain on while I watch the viewscreen. I mean computer. Hmmm...

 

Glad you made it through them all dragonfly. I am quite sure there are evil forces who eventually would get their hands on a dirty bomb but I don't believe they would be part of an organized and well financed group like the Neocons would have us believe. I just wish fear would be replaced by leaders who would provide us hope. Fear is such a negative way to get anyone to do something positive.

Any suggestions how to share this set of video segments with the masses? Digg.com?, del.icio.us? reddit.com?

How the heck would you summarize in a really short readers digest way what this is and why everyone should see it?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Dragonfly @ Oct 21 2006, 11:31 PM) [snapback]336301[/snapback]</div>

We certainly do. If you have any favorite web sites you go to spread the word.

 

Because of this thread I watched two of them today. I don't have time to comment right now but I learned a great deal. The comparison between the neocons and the Islamic extremists was eye opening. Thanks for the link! I'll revisit later.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Alnilam @ Oct 21 2006, 11:54 PM) [snapback]336305[/snapback]</div>

Your welcome Alnilam. Thanks for taking the time to look into these videos. Spread the word.

I just came across something interesting. Wikipedia has a good page of info on the Power of Nightmares.

Check this out:

Wikipedia on Power of Nightmares

The info on Wikipedia is really an eye opener. It goes into great detail concerning distribution problems in the US. If this isn't proof that we have lost our constitutional rights over free speech I don't know what does. Folks, we are in trouble.

The viewing from Google is only one of a number of legal places on the Internet you can get the "Power of Nightmares" according to the article on Wikipedia.

The article is very open and appears to be very detailed.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Dragonfly @ Oct 22 2006, 12:01 AM) [snapback]336307[/snapback]</div>

I just looked at that video Dragonfly. Talk about a string of connected fears. Sheesh, no wonder we feel the way we do.

Also, I just read in the Widipedia article a really great written summary of the videos:

DOCUMENTARY: 'The Power of Nightmares' by Adam Curtis -- summary of argument

I share this just incase someone without broadband wanted to see what this was all about.

 

Part 3 discusses the power of the fantasy of fear. Shows how neocons and islamist fundamalists were in decline till [amazingly] 9/11. Bin Laden was close to a nobody who claimed no formal organization but the U.S. invented one in Manhattan by naming “al-Qaeda†a “criminal organization.†Once invented, this 'organization' became the focus of American fears as put forth by the ncocons.

a quote from wikipedia...

The real danger was in the Islamist idea, not the organization, which did not exist. “In looking for an organization, the Americans and the British were chasing a phantom enemy and missing the real threat†(Curtis). “People are looking for something that does not exist†(Burke).

and:
. . We have an exaggerated perception of the possibility of terrorism that is quite disabling; we have only to look at the evidence to understand that the figures simply don’t bear out the way that we have responded as a society†(Bill Durodie, Director, International Center for Security Analysis, King’s College). But the simplistic fantasy serves the interests of so many powerful groups that it goes unquestioned in media and government discourse.

and final quote from wikipedia:

Neoconservatives and Islamists were “the last political idealists†(Curtis). Both have failed. But “together, they have created today’s strange fantasy of fear†(Curtis). “In a society that believes in nothing, fear becomes the only agenda . . . And a society that believes in nothing is particular frightened by people who believe in anything†(Durodie).

In short, what we have been facing for the past 5 years has been mostly a well thought out, planned take over of our democracy by neocons. Looking back, the dream of creating a better world thru politics by the neocons and islamists has failed. "Fear of a phantom enemy is all they have left". I personally credit them with believing in something and going for it. Better than what I know about the Democrats.

 

Anyone else watching the series?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Dragonfly @ Oct 22 2006, 12:47 AM) [snapback]336316[/snapback]</div>

Watched all three parts today, awesome! Tried the download Dragonfly pointed to, the iso file that's download is only 86MB though. Anyone else try the download?

 

OK I found on the same site where they have it in three MP4 (about 100M each) and am downloading part 3 now URL here. going to try and put them together onto a DVD after I have the downloads.

One thing that wasn't mentioned here yet was in part 3 when they talked about all the crap they made up and spred about Clinton. When this was going on, I took it as total BS at the time but wondered what all the fuss was about Clinton, after all there were plenty of Democratic presidents in the past, why all the sour grapes now. Well I guess that was explained quite well.

I wonder how many people would have to speak up to get it broadcast in the US? I think we can forget any of the mainstream media, but I wonder about someone like Discovery Times???

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tleonhar @ Oct 22 2006, 09:34 PM) [snapback]336594[/snapback]</div>

Welcome to the discussion tleonhar.

Earlier a link to Wikipedia provided some insight into that question. Just below the table of contents is discussion on Distribution of the film. If you haven't seen it, take a peek.

Wikipedia re: Power of Nightmares

 

For an update, I just found the entire 4GB iso file from Dragonfly's link. if you click on the ftp link from this site, it will take you to where the actual iso is located.

I also emailed links to the videos to our local DFL group (DFL is the Minnesota wing of the Democratic party, stands for Democratic Farmer Labor. It was formed by the late great Hubert Humphrey back when he was mayor of Minneapolis. Our chaptor is the Belle Plaine DFL, a Google search will bring up the specs.). I would like to get as many people as possible to get a chance to see this, especially before the elections.

 

I hope everyone watch this type documentaries. Hopefully they understand why we're at war and give us more support and help fight this terror. The presses in this country did a good job at fukng with the public's minds and viewpoints. This is why I am with Bush 110%