Tony Bennett, a free and law abiding citizen of the United States and a veteran of World War II, was thrust into the public eye after making these comments
“But who are the terrorists? Are we the terrorists or are they the terrorists? Two wrongs don’t make a right. They flew the plane in, but we caused it. Because we were bombing them and they told us to stop.”
The malestorm that ensued caused Bennett to make an apology, which he should not have done, but one can see why he did it. The above comments were made on Howard Stern’s show, the shock jock of American airwaves, when Bennett appeared there to promote his recently released album and upcoming tour. Sensing a reaction reminiscent of what happened to the Dixie Chicks at the start of Bush’s illegal war in Iraq Bennett issued his retraction.
What Bennett was talking about however is blowback, and the idea that America bears some responsibility for the international community’s opinion of us is nothing new. In fact the term has been in widespread use within government circles for at least the last 25 years, or maybe even longer. Ron Paul has brought the word and the concept to the forefront during his two presidential election campaigns and even before seeking that office. Here is the definition of blowback
Blowback is the espionage term for the violent, unintended consequences of a covert operation that are suffered by the civil population of the aggressor government. To the civilians suffering the blowback of covert operations, the effect typically manifests itself as “random” acts of political violence without a discernible, direct cause; because the public—in whose name the intelligence agency acted—are ignorant of the effected secret attacks that provoked revenge (counter-attack) against them.
and this is exactly what Bennett was talking about. Notice in the definition that in order for the aggressor government to get the most out of blowback…….casus belli, the population must remain ignorant or rather uninformed about the clandestine operations being done in their name by their imperial government, which is why Bennett’s remarks had to come under immediate scathing, scurrilous attack. Too many people are saying the same thing as Bennett and that makes it increasingly difficult for escape the judicial remedies necessary to correct this should the ground swell continue. It didn’t help Bennett’s cause any that a tour and a new album have been released or are imminent. The attribution of his remarks with the attending negative publicity would spell doom for a man used to the adulation and depending on it for a livelihood. The ‘powers that be’ know that, which is why they jumped on him so quickly. Bennett’s original comments however were right on the mark….sort of, if you believe bin laden was responsible for 911. Here’s is another view, however
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