Greg Grandin: George H.W. Bush’s 1989 Invasion of Panama Set the Stage for U.S. Wars to Come

Links to today’s show transcripts:

Greg Grandin: George H.W. Bush’s 1989 Invasion of Panama Set the Stage for U.S. Wars to Come
The death of George H.W. Bush has dominated the U.S. news for days, but little attention has been paid to the defining event of Bush’s first year in office: the invasion of Panama. On December 19, 1989, Bush Sr. sent tens of thousands of troops into Panama, ostensibly to execute an arrest warrant against its leader, Manuel Noriega, on charges of drug trafficking. General Noriega was once a close ally to Washington and on the CIA payroll. In a nationally televised address, Bush claimed the invasion was needed to defend democracy in Panama. During the attack, the U.S. unleashed a force of 24,000 troops equipped with highly sophisticated weaponry and aircraft against a country with an army smaller than the New York City Police Department. An estimated 3,000 Panamanians died in the attack. Historian Greg Grandin is a prize-winning author and professor of Latin American history at New York University, and is interviewed on the lasting impact of the Panama invasion.

Inter-American Commission on Human Rights: U.S. Owes Reparations to Panama over Bush’s Invasion
Last month, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights called on Washington to pay reparations to Panama over George H.W. Bush’s illegal invasion there in 1989. International human rights attorney José Luis Morín, who has been working since 1990 to secure reparations for Panama is interviewed. He is a professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and chairperson of the Latin American and Latina/o Studies Department.

How George H.W. Bush’s Pardons for Iran-Contra Conspirators Set the Stage for Trump’s Impunity
As the media lauds George H.W. Bush’s legacy, we look at his role in the Iran-Contra scandal. Bush Sr. was vice president when the Reagan administration conspired to deceive and defy Congress with its illegal arms sale to Iran in exchange for securing the release of American hostages in Lebanon. The proceeds from the sale were used to illegally fund the Nicaraguan Contras. In 1992, when Bush Sr. was president, he pardoned several Iran-Contra defendants, including Caspar Weinberger, Robert McFarlane and Elliott Abrams. Greg Grandin is a prize-winning author and professor of Latin American history at New York University.


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As we go deeper into this most unusual and challenging phase of history, intelligence is the thing we need the most. That is the theme of the 2019-2020 annual edition of Planet Waves, now available for pre-order. See more information here.

Planet Waves Daily Oracle for Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2018

Today’s Oracle takes us to the Capricorn weekly for July 9, 2010.

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Shift into proactive mode. For the past few months you’ve been able to ease away from the feeling that you need to be six steps ahead of everyone, and you needed the rest. Now you’re back to a distinct need to be on top of your game. That means mapping out the chessboard, knowing who is who and where you stand with everyone, and seeing what options you have. As the next few weeks unfold, you will need to make a series of decisions, and they count. Indeed, you’ve made several choices the past year-and-a-half that didn’t quite count, and now you’re playing for keeps. But you’ve learned plenty, and you’re ready to apply that knowledge. Let me clue you in on one thing you may not be noticing: people — such as colleagues, bosses, clients, peers or whoever — respect you a lot more than you think. Step into that space and live like your life matters. It most surely does.

The Daily Oracle offers a horoscope selected randomly by our Intelligent Archive Oracle program, unique to Planet Waves. It’s also a database of my horoscopes going back to the late 1990s. You can use the Intelligent Archive Oracle to answer questions and give you ideas for how to handle problems and situations you cannot see through. This feature is available to our Galaxy, Backstage and Core Community members. See this link for more information.


intel

As we go deeper into this most unusual and challenging phase of history, intelligence is the thing we need the most. That is the theme of the 2019-2020 annual edition of Planet Waves, now available for pre-order. See more information here.

Mehdi Hasan on George H.W. Bush’s Ignored Legacy: War Crimes, Racism and Obstruction of Justice

Links to today’s show transcripts:

Mehdi Hasan on George H.W. Bush’s Ignored Legacy: War Crimes, Racism and Obstruction of Justice
George H.W. Bush died in Houston on Friday night at the age of 94. Bush was elected the 41st president of the United States in 1988, becoming the first and only former CIA director to lead the country. He served as Ronald Reagan’s vice president from 1981 to 1989. Since Bush’s death, the media has honored the former president by focusing on his years of service and his call as president for a kinder, gentler America. But the headlines have largely glossed over and ignored other parts of Bush’s legacy; the 1991 Gulf War, Bush’s pardoning of six Reagan officials involved in the Iran-Contra scandal and how a racist election ad helped him become president. Intercept columnist Mehdi Hasan is interviewed. His latest piece is titled “The Ignored Legacy of George H.W. Bush: War Crimes, Racism, and Obstruction of Justice.”

Remembering George H.W. Bush’s Inaction on AIDS at Home While Detaining HIV+ Haitians at Guantánamo
George H.W. Bush died on the eve of World AIDS Day, an irony not lost on many HIV/AIDS activists who remember the 41st president of the United States for his lack of action in the 1990s as the HIV/AIDS crisis raged on. Bush said little about the crisis during his years as vice president under Ronald Reagan, who didn’t even mention AIDS until the penultimate year of his presidency. Despite promises to do more after he was elected president, George H.W. Bush refused to address and fund programs around HIV/AIDS education and prevention, as well as drug treatment. Steven Thrasher, journalist and doctoral candidate in American studies at New York University is interviewed. He was recently appointed Daniel H. Renberg chair of media coverage in sexual and gender minorities at Northwestern University. His recent article for The Nation is titled “It’s a Disgrace to Celebrate George H.W. Bush on World AIDS Day.”

Interview: Bernie Sanders on Ending Yemen War, Medicare for All, Green New Deal & the Stop BEZOS Act
Hundreds of international progressive leaders gathered in Burlington, Vermont, last weekend for an event hosted by The Sanders Institute. While there, Amy Goodman sat down with independent Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders to discuss his efforts to pass a Green New Deal, raise the minimum wage and protect Social Security. He also spoke about last week’s historic Senate vote to advance a resolution he co-sponsored to end military support for the Saudi-led, U.S.-backed war in Yemen.


intel

As we go deeper into this most unusual and challenging phase of history, intelligence is the thing we need the most. That is the theme of the 2019-2020 annual edition of Planet Waves, now available for pre-order. See more information here.

Planet Waves Daily Oracle for Monday, Dec. 3, 2018

Today’s Oracle takes us to the Taurus weekly for July 17, 2014.

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You may be tempted to do or say things in an effort to please those you feel are in positions of authority. Yet it would be better to take authority, especially over your own ideas. You don’t have to meet any standard except for being real. However, in our society this concept needs some explanation. Being real means matching your words to your actual opinion. It means matching the expression on your face to how you really feel. It means asking a question when you don’t know, instead of guessing, though that includes first checking in with yourself to assess what knowledge you already have. To take authority you have to be your own authority, which is a complex task; rather than being about bossing yourself around, it’s about having a balanced viewpoint, taking different opinions under advisement and ultimately being responsible for your own decisions. Someone who can do that is a valuable person within any group or organization.

The Daily Oracle offers a horoscope selected randomly by our Intelligent Archive Oracle program, unique to Planet Waves. It’s also a database of my horoscopes going back to the late 1990s. You can use the Intelligent Archive Oracle to answer questions and give you ideas for how to handle problems and situations you cannot see through. This feature is available to our Galaxy, Backstage and Core Community members. See this link for more information.


intel

As we go deeper into this most unusual and challenging phase of history, intelligence is the thing we need the most. That is the theme of the 2019-2020 annual edition of Planet Waves, now available for pre-order. See more information here.

Monday Morning Horoscope for Dec. 3, 2018

Aries

Aries (March 20-April 19) — It is said that faith can move mountains. I would translate that to: If you have faith in yourself, you can do nearly anything you set out to do, including what you thought was impossible. It would seem that at this stage of your growth, your ability to trust yourself and your abilities is being tested. However, unlike in some recent episodes of your life, this pressure is coming from within you, rather from around you. Your tendency to doubt yourself is again bubbling to the surface. If you tune in closely, you will notice that this is a form of fear, sometimes subtle, sometimes obvious. This, in turn, is messing with your motivation. The ability to dare is rarely considered an act of the imagination, though you might try considering that. Can you imagine the possibility of something manifesting, and allow that to be a source of strength? Can you have the flexibility adapt to the changing conditions within your mind and your emotions? A little is a good start. Get your full Aries reading by Eric here.

Taurus

Taurus (April 19-May 20) — Recent activity in your opposite sign Scorpio looks like it’s helping you clarify some situations involving close partners. If you’ve been able to maintain clear communication through this year of impressively complicated astrology, you’re doing well. Any improvements are not merely about attaining perfection; you’re in an excellent spot right now to make sure that there’s mutual understanding of everyone’s needs. You’ve been growing restless for expanded horizons for some time now, and you’re finally beginning to respond to that reality. If you keep the lines of communication open, and state clearly what you want and what you’re willing to offer, you will find that the world makes room for you as you stretch and grow into new versions of yourself. This will take some trust and vulnerability on your part, since you will need to accept that we care enough about you to aid and abet your process of becoming and emerging into new forms of you. Get your full Taurus reading by Eric here.

Gemini

Gemini (May 20-June 21) — Current astrology is pushing and pulling you in many directions. You would be wise not to respond to exterior forces, for now. There is too much psychic and emotional interference for you to have any real clarity about what to act on and when. However, this would be an excellent time to pay attention to new information that comes your way, particularly if it challenges your prejudices and beliefs. The challenge with your current cosmic setup is that you will be inclined to believe what is not true, and to reject what has merit. There are motives lurking behind these choices, and you want to know what they are. That’s going to take some time, though clues are forthcoming. Mercury, the Gemini planet, is about to return to direct motion. If you pause the action in your life, and stop rushing so much, and listen inside yourself, you will get a burst of information as Mercury changes directions. Then, you will need to pause long enough to consider what it’s telling you. For now, you might practice the Course in Miracles meditation: I need do nothing. Get your full Gemini reading by Eric here.

Cancer

Cancer (June 21-July 22) — You’re finally at a turning point you can understand, and can act on. This is a long-range process, not something connected to this week or this month. However, you’re getting the message right now that it’s time to orient yourself not just on new goals but on a whole new position in life. The feeling is more like finding or discovering yourself than it is like making radical changes. Saturn’s presence in Capricorn, your opposite sign (relationships, environment) is helping you set limits and also work within certain limitations. However, you might say that the theme of your solar chart, in total, is that necessity is the mother of invention. And now, you get to reinvent the direction of your life. You have an idea brewing; you are not just at a turning point, you may be at the place where the road branches. And while life is usually guided through decisions, at this time you may feel like your decision will come in the form of action. Notice what you do — not just what you want to do. Get your full Cancer reading by Eric here.

Leo

Leo (July 22-Aug. 23) — You may be inclined to push a limit or test a boundary, though before you do that, you might want to check on the impact or influence you already have. The chances are, it’s much more than you may think. In fact, you’re reaching people well beyond the horizons of your awareness (this, I can see from the New Moon conjunct the Great Attractor; see article above). When that kind of effect is happening, the place to focus your efforts is close to your core. Go for clear communication with yourself, an efficient burn of your energy. Stick with a few tangible goals rather than many scattered ones — perhaps even one specific priority. Focus on developing what you already have going on, rather than expanding into something new. You’re on a frontier, though it’s an inner edge that will help you develop yourself, not a thing or an idea; hence, sticking to what already has momentum and is a focus of your commitment. What you are doing is not about “it.” What you’re doing is about you. Remember. Get your full Leo reading by Eric here.

Virgo

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) — Your mind tends to have two settings — very narrow, and very wide. You tend to go into narrow setting when you’re focused on self-interest, usually in a form that doesn’t actually help you. You tend to go into wide mode when you’re focused on others, in a humanitarian spirit. This is about how you orient your perception of reality; your perspective is what changes, not the world. It turns out that wide-angle mode — big issues, concern about others and humanitarian spirit — is where you can help yourself the most effectively as well. So you might say that the distinction is not really narrow or wide, but rather helpful or not helpful. You don’t need to do much to take care of yourself, if you stick to the basics, like food, water, rest and setting your priorities. You will succeed if you specifically avoid working at cross-purposes to yourself. If you hear a voice in your mind telling you that you’re not safe, the chances are it’s a mirage. If your physical body bristles at another person’s presence, or at the thought of going somewhere, that’s probably something you want to investigate and respond to. Get your full Virgo reading by Eric here.

Libra

Libra (Sep. 22-Oct. 23) — If you’ve made any questionable financial decisions the past few weeks, you still have time to reverse them, or mitigate the damage. This might include having sold yourself short in some kind of arrangement where you’re providing a service and are expecting fair pay. However, if employers or business partners are involved, you will need to have the discussion gently, and emphasize the positive contributions that you’re making, in the long run. If some potential error involved a purchase or a contract, you may still be within the time range when you can revise, or cancel the arrangement, or return the product. However, first, find out the latest possible time you can do that. Any recent decisions requiring re-evaluation need a fresh look sometime after the weekend, after Mercury has gone direct. Your mind is given to doubts at the moment, most of which are grounded emotionally rather than in objective reality. So don’t be so sure you’ve made a mistake — where both people and things are concerned. Get your full Libra reading by Eric here.

Scorpio

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 22) — This week’s astrology may encourage you to push all limits, though you will want to choose certain specific ones, not all of them. The simplest way to say this is that you know right from wrong. As long as you stick to doing what is right, you can pretty much take things as far as you want to go. The planets are warning you not to get involved in anything self-destructive. Now, by one measure, that would include most of American culture, so you will need to narrow that down. Stay sober in the times and places you need to be sober. Open up to intimacy with people you’re pretty sure care about you. If you’re going to make art using any toxic substances, be sure to vent the space. Be careful when handling fire, be it emotional or elemental. I guess what I’m saying here is have fun and explore — and also, know your limits, respect your own integrity and respect the law. That leaves you lots of room to have a good time, and a rather unusual one, at that. Get your full Scorpio reading by Eric here.

Sagittarius

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 22) — This week’s visionary New Moon in your sign (exact Friday at 2:20 am EST / 7:20:15 UTC) can help you bring out the very best in who you are. And it can bring out the worst, too, if you allow your insecurities to get control of you. One of the essential necessities during the coming seasons will be to maintain your sense of proportion. Keep your efforts, and your energy, close to you. Pay attention to what is going on in your home. Notice whether you’re responding or reacting in any situation, again, primarily at home though anywhere that an issue of personal confidence is concerned. Under the current astrology, it’s necessary that you maintain vigilance where any self-destructive tendencies are concerned. These would include any form of self-deception that you might practice, though this means you becoming the mediator of whether you’re being honest with yourself. Err on the side of caution; demand proof from yourself where your perceptions are concerned, if you are making judgments. And then practice forgiveness, as daily yoga. Get your full Sagittarius reading by Eric here.

Capricorn

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 20) — You may experience thoughts and feelings that seem bigger than you, right on up to what you consider overwhelming. You might tap into what feels like “the infinite,” or feel some presence of divine awareness working through you. Don’t take these things so seriously. Other aspect patterns describe a serious need to contain yourself, and to focus on the practical; yet others warn that you might be taking an unrealistic position and thinking of it as verified truth. This is not a good time to push limits when it comes to determining for yourself what is real. It is, though, an excellent time to experiment with your creative process, in whatever form that takes. The beautiful thing about art is that it’s neither true nor false. There is nothing to prove, and nothing that can be proven. When you feel like you’re alive and expressing yourself in your own original way, that is art. When you decide that you are right, and that what you think is true in any absolute way, that is dogma. Understanding this distinction will be most useful to you. Get your full Capricorn reading by Eric here.

Aquarius

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — It would be a good idea to practice the notion that the best things in life are free. That will prevent you from wasting money, and at the same time, guide you to emphasize what is naturally available in your environment. The caution around finances should be coming through every daily horoscope in the world this week, with the combination of Mercury changing directions, and Mars meeting up with Neptune in your house of finances and resources. That’s reason to slow down the movie where financial commitments and cash outlay are concerned, with an additional layer of caution that such might be related to spending money to feel better about yourself, or to compensate for something you feel you’ve lost. Yet what you may not see is that what you perceive as a loss is really an opening that you would not have had otherwise. An opening is also a vulnerability, and you will need to treat this with care, and go out of your way this week to treat others with respect. Take on the burden of clear communication; take it slowly and carefully. Get your full Aquarius reading by Eric here.

Pisces

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — This week’s extraordinary astrology influences Pisces Sun, Moon and rising perhaps more than any other sign, as a major feature takes place at the center of your zone of the zodiac. This aspect is Mars conjunct Neptune, which will seem to give you enhanced powers of perception, clairvoyance and intuition. Yet what you perceive through these channels is not enough information to work with, and it might even be wrong. And what you think you know is certainly not enough to act on without further validation, with additional need for caution coming from Mercury stationing direct later this week, just as Mars-Neptune is at peak intensity. Meanwhile, other activity in your house of accomplishment, responsibility and direction will have you reaching for some unusual success, or feeling like you can and must promote yourself in some way. You will be convincing, though the burden is on you to be honest. No actual success comes from anything other than integrity — not the way I define success, anyway. So you will need to monitor yourself and your environment carefully, and be sure to have a few people read anything you plan to publish. Get your full Pisces reading by Eric here.

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Sagittarius New Moon on the Great Heaven

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Composite image showing the Smith Cloud, an immense cloud of hydrogen gas, making its way toward our galaxy at nearly 700,000 miles per hour. Image by Saxton/Lockman/NRAO/AUI/NSF/Mellinger.

This will be another week of unusual astrology, which will intensify over the next five or six days. I’m going to provide a rundown of the basics, with some practical ideas and philosophy. We all read a lot on the internet, and the stream of ‘content’ goes by so fast it’s difficult to remember what you learned. So, I’ll send this letter out again on Tuesday evening, as a reminder.

The current astrology may enhance the condition of forgetting what you learn, or what you know, and arrive with various forms of false certainty, including the notion that you’re not really so vulnerable (when in fact we need to be monitoring our vulnerabilities carefully this week).

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New Moon, Mercury Direct, Mueller Probe Coming to a Boil

Use this link if you’re listening on an iOS or mobile device. Download MP3.


As we go deeper into this most unusual, challenging and potentially troubling phase of history, intelligence is the thing we need the most. That is the theme of the 2019-2020 annual edition of Planet Waves, now available for pre-order. See more information here.


Hey Sagittarius — Jupiter in your sign means you’re entering a year of new experience, greater understanding of who you are, and inspiring growth. Your 2018-19 Sagittarius birthday reading will help you make the best of Jupiter’s gifts.


Tonight I have a short edition of Planet Waves FM for you, going over this week’s utterly out-there astrology, recent and upcoming developments in the Mueller probe, and some music from Vision Quest.

I make reference to a Rachel Maddow segment that you can watch here on YouTube.

These days, I’m recording part one of INTELLIGENCE, the 2019-2020 readings. Then I’ll move into the written readings, covering 2020. Once Mercury is direct, the two sections will be split apart and, in effect, the price will double.

You can still order for the pre-order, combined price here.

Thank you for tuning in.

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Planet Waves Daily Oracle for Sunday, Dec. 2, 2018

Today’s Oracle takes us to the Virgo weekly for October 31, 2016.

oracle

You may have recently made some observations about a person you live with, and you would be wise to act on them rather than put things off for a few more seasons, months or years. This really is a matter of confidence. If you trusted yourself, what would you do? That’s not only a question in this situation — it’s the theme of your life right now and for the foreseeable future. When you trust yourself you have access to your resources. When you don’t, the first thing to ask yourself is where your faith in yourself went, where you left it behind, or to whom you handed it over (any feelings of guilt will give you a clue as to who that is). My point being: it’s not only what you need, it’s the only thing you need, and you would be wise to devote yourself to this one purpose. It transcends all others.

The Daily Oracle offers a horoscope selected randomly by our Intelligent Archive Oracle program, unique to Planet Waves. It’s also a database of my horoscopes going back to the late 1990s. You can use the Intelligent Archive Oracle to answer questions and give you ideas for how to handle problems and situations you cannot see through. This feature is available to our Galaxy, Backstage and Core Community members. See this link for more information.


intel

As we go deeper into this most unusual and challenging phase of history, intelligence is the thing we need the most. That is the theme of the 2019-2020 annual edition of Planet Waves, now available for pre-order. See more information here.