Author name: davidswanson

By David Swanson, World BEYOND War, February 5, 2023

David Swanson is the author of the new book The Monroe Doctrine at 200 and What to Replace It With.

The Monroe Doctrine was first discussed under that name as justification for the U.S. war on Mexico that moved the western U.S. border south, swallowing up the present-day states of California, Nevada, and Utah, most of New Mexico, Arizona and Colorado, and parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Wyoming. By no means was that as far south as some read more

By David Swanson, World BEYOND War, February 4, 2023

In a children’s book by Chris Colfer called The Land of Stories: A Grimm Warning, a Napoleonic French army of soldiers, guns, swords, and cannons arrives in the fairy tale land where Red Riding Hood, Sleeping Beauty, and all sorts of similar people and fairies dwell.

The girl in charge of the place immediately begins organizing armies to fight the invaders. What choice does she have? Well, there are a number of reasons, somewhat unique to the read more

By Donbass Devushka, February 4, 2023

Donbass Devushka and JM sit down with David Swanson, author, activist, journalist and radio host, to talk about U.S. misconceptions of WWII, manufacturing consent, the war in Ukraine, and the peace movement. Check out David’s book “Leaving WWII Behind” here: https://davidswanson.org/lwwiib

Hard Lens Media interviews David Swanson about plans for the Rage Against the War Machine rally in Washington DC on February 19. See https://rageagainstwar.com

By David Swanson, World BEYOND War, January 29, 2023

David Swanson is the author of the new book The Monroe Doctrine at 200 and What to Replace It With.

We’re often taught that the Monroe Doctrine wasn’t acted on until decades after its articulation, or that it wasn’t acted on as a license for imperialism until it was altered or reinterpreted by later generations. This is not false, but it is overstated. One of the reasons that it is overstated is the same reason that we’re sometimes taught read more

Download Episode.

Scott brings on David Swanson to discuss the war in Ukraine. Scott and many of his guests have spent a lot of time explaining all the ways the U.S. and NATO unnecessarily backed Russia into a corner. But there are, in fact, plenty of things Moscow could have done to address the situation read more

I’m getting a lot more criticism for planning to speak at an antiwar rally at which libertarians will speak than I do for sitting around doing nothing. In fact, I get exactly no criticism ever from anyone for sitting around doing nothing, even though that’s far more dangerous.

I realize that sitting around doing nothing, or binge watching videos, is a top priority for millions of people. E’ dolce fare niente, there’s no doubt. I see packed sports arenas and vacation read more

The task before the United States is to end its Monroe Doctrine, and to end it not only in Latin America but globally, and to not only end it but to replace it with the positive actions of joining the world as a law-abiding member.

Video here: https://disk.yandex.ru/i/NiRozuBXOE1DXg

By David Swanson, World BEYOND War, January 24, 2023

Tariq Ali’s book, Winston Churchill: His Times, His Crimes, is an excellent counter to the bizarrely inaccurate propaganda about Winston Churchill that is the norm. But to enjoy this book, you have to also be looking for a general roving people’s history of the 20th century and assorted topics that interest Tariq Ali, including a certain belief in both communism and warmaking (and a disregard for nonviolent action from an author read more

I know it sounds like a pizza ad, but it’s far less healthy: “Democrats Deliver!”

It’s apparently a website, the name of a tour of Democrats, something pasted on the front of blogs and the back of buses, and something said often by Democrats in Congress, Democrats in California, and Democrats bewildered by Republicans actually exercising power. But I bring it up because I’ve seen this peculiar graphic:

Apparently the graphic comes from this read more

By David Swanson, World BEYOND War, January 22, 2023

David Swanson is the author of the new book The Monroe Doctrine at 200 and What to Replace It With.

A poorly maintained tradition begun with the Monroe Doctrine was that of supporting Latin American democracies. This was the popular tradition that sprinkled the U.S. landscape with monuments to Simón Bolívar, a man once treated in the United States as a revolutionary hero on the model of George Washington despite widespread prejudices toward read more

There are a lot of reasons for a progressive caring person not to be focused on the growing threat of fascism in the United States. After getting past all the pressing needs of one’s personal life (in a society of long hours, financial insecurity, poor healthcare, energetic kids drugged, a record number of adults imprisoned, the most finely tuned propaganda system ever devised, not to mention intimidation and fear), the main stumbling block is that everything is turned into a partisan question. read more

I was happy to discuss The Monroe Doctrine at 200 and What to Replace it With, and Ukraine, and other topics, with Dennis Bernstein. Listen here or here.

By David Swanson, World BEYOND War, January 17, 2023

David Swanson is the author of the new book The Monroe Doctrine at 200 and What to Replace It With.

The Monroe Doctrine was and is a justification for actions, some good, some indifferent, but the overwhelming bulk reprehensible. The Monroe Doctrine remains in place, both explicitly and dressed up in novel language. Additional doctrines have been built on its foundations. Here are the words of the Monroe Doctrine, as carefully selected from President read more