Ok, finally some structure for this blog. I am going to do weekly posts with the occasional reblog or smaller post thrown in. 

Last I heard we have something like +800 military bases around the world. We also currently have a major financial crunch and need to pinch every penny. 

So why hasn’t there been a single bit of investigative journalism by the MM on the total cost of all of these bases? Personnel, upkeep, diplomatic erosion (due to the perceived occupation by US forces)? Where’s Diane Sawyer? The Economist? 60 Minutes?

Why aren’t there infographics telling me how much of my tax dollars goes to fund US bases in Europe each year? Why does this feel like a black hole of journalism? I’m positive that I am not the only one who feels that this information would be both interesting and educational. 

We have over 250 military bases in Germany, 120 in Japan, and 85 in South Korea… why? Who are we protecting Germany from? Don’t they already have their own defense?

Whenever I find myself asking questions like this- “why isn’t this plainly obvious problem being reported when other, lesser, plainly obvious problems are?” I generally ask myself Que bono? Who benefits?

Honestly, I don’t know. I’m not about to go all conspiracy theory on you. But why else would a topic that has been on the national stage (and mentioned in numerous interviews with politicians from both sides) be so lightly reported on if there wasn’t some larger reason?

There are dozens of sites, papers, magazines that specialize in investigative journalism… why hasn’t a single big one touched on this? Why does this feel like a topic that’s being purposely kept off the radar of the average US citizen?

Want to know more?

The Nation - Around The Globe, US Military Bases Generate Resentment, Not Security

The Bulletin - Empire of Bases

Foreign Policy In Focus - Too Many Overseas Bases

AlterNet - 737 US Military Bases = Global Empire (2007)

Look, I’m not pro-anything related to this guy. Just… would it kill the media to at least mention that he was a US Citizen that received neither a trial nor due process before he was killed? 

Just give us the information and let everyone come to their own conclusion. Most people, when told everything, would still be ok with this killing (myself included). I just hate when the Mainstream Media does my thinking for me. 

Don’t call him a terrorist, let me come to that conclusion. Tell me he had strong Al-Qaeda ties and is believed to have played a part in x, y, and z. Tell me why we did it and why the ACLU has a problem with it. Then let ME figure out if I think it’s a good or bad thing.