Caitlin Johnstone |
January 08, 2021 "I" - - Stop trivializing the term "coup". It's a real thing the US government really inflicts on other countries in a way that actually does topple governments and cause immense destruction. You cannot take over the US government with a small squadron of wingnuts. That's not a thing.
A coup attempt doesn't have to be successful for that term to be legitimate, but it does have to have some possibility of success. Trump has no more likelihood of being in office after January 20th than I do; he's got nothing resembling the kind of support from the military, political establishment, oligarchs and other backing he'd need to accomplish such a thing.
I hereby declare the US election invalid and I, Caitlin Johnstone, am the new President of the United States.
Have I just instituted a "coup"? Or does my complete inability to put such a claim into effect make the use of that term silly?
And now Trump has conceded. My what a funny looking coup.
Continue reading @ Information Clearing House.
It was an attack by a far right mob goaded by an incumbent President in an attempt the derail the democratic verdict of the American people.
ReplyDeleteCall it what you like; attempted coup, insurrection whatever. It was an attack on the democratic process and the institutions of democracy by the forces of reaction and privilege. It was no different in intent to the coups in Bolivia, Honduras, Chile, Guatemala, Iran, Spain in the 1930s which the author would (rightfully) condemn. The difference was it failed just like Tejero's attempted putsch in Spain 40 years ago.
Democracy and its outcomes must be respected, acknowledged and defended where it is under attack be it Hong Kong, Bolivia or the USA.
A coup is not defined by what was achieved or could have been achieved. A coup is defined by the intention of those who instigate it -it requires the 'mens rea' = the intention/guilty mind (in the same way that murder is distinguished from manslaughter)
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