19
Monanism: The Chmaren Rouge
When Mona Charen complains that New York Times reporter Seth Mydans fails to mention ‘the “c” word even once’ in his recent account of the Phnom Penh trial of Tuol Sleng killer Duch, one immediately imagines she must mean Chomsky. Kissinger, after all, starts with a ‘k’.
Turns out she was talking about ‘communism’.
Duch, or Kaing Guek Eav, was commandant of the Khmer Rouge’s infamous prison and the first of five leaders of the regime to face trial in Cambodia’s capital. Mydans’ ’spare account’ of the opening day of Duch’s trial lacks context, according to Charen, which apparently can only be supplied by lots of purple prose about the Paris Commune and rifle butts smashing eyeglasses:
But this spare account hardly does justice to the story. One cannot understand the catastrophe that befell Cambodia without knowing that the people who engineered this gruesome slaughter were intellectuals who dreamed of a better world. Nearly all of the Khmer Rouge leaders had studied abroad, in Paris, where they became drunk on tales of the French Revolution and learned their craft from the French Communist party.
Fair enough, in a Reader’s Digest sort of way. But if we’re going to demand context in our revisiting of the Killing Fields, we might also like to see mention of ‘b’ words, ‘l’ words and, if we’re feeling frisky, could even explore the irony of ‘v’-word ‘c’ words bringing the ‘k’-word ‘c’ words’ reign of terror to a close, even as ‘a’ words continued to support those very same ‘k’-word ‘c’ words now on trial for the ‘g’ word.
It’s an ‘f’ word old ‘w’ word, indeed.
commie atheist said,
February 19, 2009 at 11:34
Thanks for the history lesson. I had forgotten that what happened at Kent State was a response to the bombing of Cambodia.
This part was interesting:
Sihanouk formed a government-in-exile in Beijing known as the Royal Government of the National Union of Kampuchea (GRUNK), and a political coalition known as the National United Front of Kampuchea (FUNK), urging resistance to Nol. Sihanouk served as a useful symbol of resistance for the Khmer Rouge, who consolidated control in GRUNK and FUNK and rallied peasants to join the insurgency.
All of which, of course, led to this:
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/876296/teletubbies_getting_crunk/
M. Bouffant said,
February 19, 2009 at 11:38
I got nothing: Second!
M. Bouffant said,
February 19, 2009 at 11:40
Well, OK, maybe just a little.
Charen wants context? From a daily newspaper? Silly bunt.
alec said,
February 19, 2009 at 12:19
And Kent State was what changed Devo from aimless surf-rock to proto-NW punk. (o-HI-o!)
Politique Potentielle was, to be fair, about as Communist as the Paris Communards – he basically took everything heretical and backwards about Maoism and took it to its logical extreme. An overemphasis on independent peasants and anti-intellectual streak turned into a deadly earnest effort to empty every living creature from a city the size of Chicago.into already-saturated paddy labor.
By the time our enemies in Vietnam (Soviet clients) invaded Cambodia (Chinese clients, and by extension fairly close to the US), the killing fields had already largely reached their high-water mark. But even in the first few hours there was intense, active, and fore-planned mass murder. This was not the simple mix of incompetence and brutality that was present in China, with its backyard forges and ginned-up crop numbers. Four hospitals were emptied at gunpoint, including ICUs and surgical theatres.
The level of cold-blooded murder that US actions essentially enabled in Cambodia starting in 1975 is unparallelled, with perhaps the only real equivalents being the near-complete genocide of the Herero by the Südwestafrikan government or the complete genocide of the native populations of Hispanola and the various other Caribbean islands by Columbus. ‘Commies did it’ would be repugnant even if it weren’t an ideologically-motivated slur – denying Pol Pot his essential humanity, pretending that a wall of steel separates us from this man who saw in retirees, people in open surgery and critical care, and disabled children his blood enemies.
Jesus Christ. What the hell is wrong with these people? Are they fucking Martians or something?
alec said,
February 19, 2009 at 12:38
Oh, and speaking of neoconservafucks.
Smut Clyde said,
February 19, 2009 at 12:42
Come to that, why did the Royal ?Union Nationale du Kampuchea adopt a FRENCH NAME?
Clearly the insidious attractions of French intellectual idealism were so strong as to attract these acolytes and epigones from the far side of the world. Indeed, the doctrines taught in the Sorbonne are responsible for the 50-year nightmare of Indo-Chinese history. But on the bright side, along the way they learned to bake baguettes and brew decent coffee.
moron said,
February 19, 2009 at 12:45
Mona Charen is a “the c-word”.
yoyo said,
February 19, 2009 at 13:17
Mona Charen is a “the c-word I’ll drink to that. Funny how these wingnuts never mention the role that the communist vietnamese played in getting rid of the KR im cambodia.
Till said,
February 19, 2009 at 15:06
tales of the French Revolution
I knew it! It’s all the fault of M. Robespierre. Or maybe the Dead Kennedys.
OB-GYN Kenobi said,
February 19, 2009 at 15:33
So basically, Charen still doesn’t have a job.
R. Porrofatto said,
February 19, 2009 at 15:52
Excellent and glad to see you included Nixon & Kissinger, without whom the Khmer Rouge would probably never have achieved significant power (see Sideshow, William Shawcross). What’s most disturbing is Charen’s underlying conspiranoid premise for this column: that the Times employed some nefarious “ingenuity” to omit the “c-word” because… well because why? Because as the house organ of the liberal church in America, the Times is COMMUNIST! That’s why they gloss over the sins of Stalin while raking poor Hitler’s name through the mud! It’s the dreaded MSM conspiracy, of which the Times is the undisputed leader, who only mentions political affiliation when it’s right wing or conservative!
Not to mention that the likelihood a NY Times reader already knows that the Khmer Rouge was communist is inversely proportionate to the odds that a Townhall reader knows that Mona Charen is a shameless nutball.
OB-GYN Kenobi said,
February 19, 2009 at 15:55
They need those adjectives added on. It’s the only way they can be sure that their message is being reinforced, what with reality constantly contradicting them and all.
Rightwingsnarkle said,
February 19, 2009 at 16:10
Well, I’m gonna click on that Townhall link right away, since I need a thorough history lesson.
Rusty Shackleford said,
February 19, 2009 at 16:17
Funny how these wingnuts never mention the role that the communist vietnamese played in getting rid of the KR im cambodia.
Not to mention WWII. Hitler wasn’t defeated single-handedly by John Wayne, y’know.
OB-GYN Kenobi said,
February 19, 2009 at 16:26
Hitler wasn’t defeated single-handedly by John Wayne, y’know.
But the Japanese were. I saw They Were Expendable.
actor212 said,
February 19, 2009 at 16:27
I’m lost.
You could have simplified this by mentioning the other “c” word (colonialism) and been done with this with one fifth effort and one tenth the confusion.
El Cid said,
February 19, 2009 at 16:30
Mona Charen got her second Reagan White House job (after working for Nancy) in propagandizing for Reagan’s death squad and terrorist friends in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Nicaragua (not to mention buddy John Negroponte’s death squads in Honduras).
Second, I really don’t think it’s some suppressed or absent historical fact that Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge were communist. In fact, that’s why all the talking heads in the U.S.A. can mention the mass murders and genocide under Khmer communists but are completely unaware of the 500,000 million people killed in the Indonesian coup we supported — including handing lists of people to kill to Suharto’s army.
Third, Pol Pot & the Khmer Rouge were a marginal group of lunatic guerrillas until nearly a decade of bombing and then (under Nixon) carpet bombing Cambodian villagers lead the peasantry — as THE CIA PREDICTED AT THE TIME — to support the Khmer Rouge.
They particularly hate Chomsky for pointing out that a lot of people in the genocide died from starvation due to the U.S. destruction of the agricultural system given that a lot of people farm less when it rains bombs continuously from the sky.
For the right wing and liberal hawks if you don’t immediately accept that (a) every single person who died during the Khmer Rouge regime was directly killed by Khmer Rouge troops; and that (b) any number of victims estimated is okay as long as it’s bigger than the last number.
The right wingers have to scream a lot about Paris! and Noam Chomsky! and Communist! because they detest anyone putting 1 and 1 together on how the U.S. bombing campaign the hawks loved handed power to the Khmer Rouge.
The Guatemalan government which Mona Charen was sent out to defend killed up to 200,000 defenseless Mayan hill community members, often bashing babies’ heads against rocks and poles, and were funded, armed and trained by a coalition of U.S. intelligence agencies, Latin American fascists (literally, Argentinian Neo-Nazis), and Israeli military, intelligence, and merc agents.
ignatov said,
February 19, 2009 at 16:40
Mona sez, “The Times has even used the term “conservative” to describe the mullahs in Iran and the Taliban in Afghanistan.”
Well, I’d say that’s understating the case.
actor212 said,
February 19, 2009 at 16:47
that’s why all the talking heads in the U.S.A. can mention the mass murders and genocide under Khmer communists but are completely unaware of the 500,000 million people killed in the Indonesian coup we supported — including handing lists of people to kill to Suharto’s army.
Does that count include the 217 million birds in Wisconsin?
Tom said,
February 19, 2009 at 16:50
Nearly all of the Khmer Rouge leaders had studied abroad, in Paris, where they became drunk on tales of the French Revolution and learned their craft from the French Communist party.
Well, after all it was French Indochina so where else would they go to study?
Sarcastro said,
February 19, 2009 at 16:53
If we’re quoting the Iron Lady:
The “L”s not for “T”ing!
Lex (Agent of Chaos) Azagthoth said,
February 19, 2009 at 16:53
I thought that the “C” word was CPAC, and I’m still trying really hard to go. Anyone up for a CPAC this year? Definitely the new “c” word.
I tell people when they tell me I look like Sarah Silverman (and they always do) that we don’t really look alike, we both just say cunt a lot. I’m not used to calling anything a “c” word. I’m too vile and vulgar for that.
owlbear1 said,
February 19, 2009 at 16:53
Bravo Mona! Bravo!
Masterful self-victimization there.
10.0 10.0 10.0 and 9.8 (fucking ”c’ Judge)
actor212 said,
February 19, 2009 at 17:20
I’m not used to calling anything a “c” word. I’m too vile and vulgar for that.
I’m very interested in your writings and would like to subscribe to your newsletter.
D.N. Nation said,
February 19, 2009 at 17:23
OT- Edroso just destroyed the glibertarian guns-guns-guns crowd:
That’ll leave a mark.
Rusty Shackleford said,
February 19, 2009 at 17:37
Big Ho guy writes hey-look-at-me post just to have an excuse to point out that that isn’t his body.
Mr. Wonderful said,
February 19, 2009 at 18:10
“I tell people when they tell me I look like Sarah Silverman (and they always do)”
You do? And you live where? Have anything against married men?
Meanwhile, CPAC: Help the American Milk Solids Council, Mister Leonard Pierce. You’re their only hope.
handy said,
February 19, 2009 at 18:13
Angering the left wing of the blogosphere can lead to getting your head pasted onto someone else’s body.
Actually, anger is not required.
actor212 said,
February 19, 2009 at 18:23
I do have some Lib-Artist credentials as I have been spun on KCRW more than once.
I don’t think he means his CD.
Rusty Shackleford said,
February 19, 2009 at 18:27
I do have some Lib-Artist credentials as I have been spun on KCRW more than once.
“Lib-Artist credentials”? Somebody didn’t get the memo.
Legalize said,
February 19, 2009 at 18:29
OT. but Michael Steele looks to be getting his “thug on” with the GOP:
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/02/steele-promises-new-image-for-republicans-in-hip-hop-settings.php
Obama might be difficult to make fun of. And that’s sad. Thankfully the GOP is more than willing to over-compensate.
Gavin M. said,
February 19, 2009 at 18:30
Dude, I’m working on that post now!
Legalize said,
February 19, 2009 at 18:31
Sorry! :)
Rusty Shackleford said,
February 19, 2009 at 18:33
Steele literally said it’s going to be “off the hook.”
les said,
February 19, 2009 at 18:43
Can someone tell me why even the brain dead Mona c-words of the world give a shit about communism these days? If we give St. Reagan credit for it’s disappearance as a real factor in anything, will they shut the fuck up?
D.N. Nation said,
February 19, 2009 at 18:43
Stop, collaborate and listen
Wingnuts back with a brand new edition
PeeJ said,
February 19, 2009 at 18:54
I think you all missed it. Moanmoanmoana Summor Charen isn’t beating the ‘c’ thing. Read the excerpt again, the part about intellectuals who dreamed of a better world. She could have as easily written
“elitists who have hope” or something similar. It’s us, we intellectual dreamers who are dangerous. The enemy is now us.
zombie rotten mcdonald said,
February 19, 2009 at 18:56
we have ALWAYS been the Enemy, PeeJ.
DAS said,
February 19, 2009 at 19:06
She could have as easily written
“elitists who have hope” or something similar. It’s us, we intellectual dreamers who are dangerous. The enemy is now us. – PeeJ
Um … didn’t many neo-cons start out as intellectual commie types who took a hard turn in favor of government repression of hippy-dippy smarty-pants wearers when they made common cause with the rural “red-staters” and their distrust of urbane intellectuals?
So at the risk of doing X to this thread where X:Godwin::Pol Pot:Hitler (I guess writing that makes me an intellectual dreamer and hence dangerous?), who in this country is really like the Khmer Rouge?
tigrismus said,
February 19, 2009 at 19:07
That article seems to presume some baseline level of knowledge on the part of the reader. This may have been what stymied Ms. Charen.
J— said,
February 19, 2009 at 19:28
That doesn’t sound like heavy rotation.
Crissa said,
February 19, 2009 at 19:50
Funny how they blame China, Vietnam, and communists for the Khmer Rouge when those powers were the only states to actually oppose the Khmer Rouge’s actions.
Lex (Agent of Chaos) Azagthoth said,
February 19, 2009 at 19:57
Mr. my own brother saw actual Sarah Silverman and thought it was me finally showing up. It really is the cunt thing though, I swear. And I swear. With all my heart.
Lex (Agent of Chaos) Azagthoth said,
February 19, 2009 at 20:08
So, Pammycakes sure buried her Al Qaeda has nukes story from this morning. I guess the rest of the media wasn’t going to follow her in informing us what to do in case of nuclear attack. I was so scared.
Righteous Bubba said,
February 19, 2009 at 20:11
Snurf. First sentence:
And then they tell two friends, and so on, and so on…
Lex (Agent of Chaos) Azagthoth said,
February 19, 2009 at 20:16
Aww come on, that’s big news! What’d she say? The media is sedating us or something? We’d all know otherwise. But otherwise, pretty much, Bubba. I did screen cap it though, just as a great moment in alarmist blogging history.
Another Kiwi said,
February 19, 2009 at 20:37
As a member of the Socialist do-gooder Islamocommie fascist Republic of Aotearoa we would like our nukes too, please AQ.
You couldn’t call? You don’t have phones? Like a simple ” ‘Sup, Kiwis, ask us if we got nukes, just ask”
We feel hurt, nay betrayed, and we would like our Pam Atlas beach calender back, thanks. No nukes means no “cheeky, wholesome, fun”
Hmmmmph
The Cat said,
February 19, 2009 at 20:57
And then they tell two friends, and so on, and so on…
Mahmoud Ahmadine-Kevin-Bacon-ijad will slaughter us all.
Djur said,
February 19, 2009 at 21:27
So does Pam Atlas actually think that al Qaida is a proxy of Iran?
jim said,
February 19, 2009 at 21:37
Even all these years later, I gasp when any neocon brings up Pol Pot – especially as some sort of anti-Commie / pro-USA rant. Talk about hubris … America’s role in his rise & its condemnation of Vietnam for his overthrow is common knowledge, as is the role of China’s new (in the 70s) “Most Favored Nation” trade-status with the US in keeping “Democratic Kampuchea” intact as one of the worst death-squad-states ever … it’s one of the uglier chapters in 20th-Century American history, so you’d think they’d avoid it like scabies.
But hell, a lot of these goofs still think of Ronald “Here, America, Just Do Another Rail Of This Contra-Coke -Your Grandchildren Won’t Mind Paying $3,500 For Pentagon Toiletseats” Reagan was the best prez EVAR, so it’s par for the curse.
M. Bouffant said,
February 19, 2009 at 22:43
Very quickly, if you’ve been “spun” on KCRW your music is neo-yuppie limp-dick lounge pseudo-cocktail imitation or actual Eurotrash crap, you automatically suck, & you should shut up & die. Immediately.
M. Bouffant said,
February 19, 2009 at 22:47
So does Pam Atlas actually think
that al Qaida is a proxy of Iran?Submitted for your consideration.
J— said,
February 20, 2009 at 1:17
You be the judge!
Leonard Pierce said,
February 20, 2009 at 1:56
Hey, wait! I’VE been to Paris! I’M an intellectual who dreams of a better world! I’VE studied a broad or two!
Man, I’m way behind on my genocide.
Dhalgren said,
February 20, 2009 at 2:09
It is rare, but when a conservative tells me that the Khmer Rouge were communists, I bust out a term that has helped me win 2 arguments. I tell them that the KR were radical agrarian communists. Rather than try to build an industry full of state-owned businesses and share the wealth, they used forced agrarian labor as a form of genocide. So really, the fact that they started out as communists is a totally moot point. Add to the fact that they rose out of the political instability caused by ILLEGAL US BOMBING, and it is a further moot point.
Sarah said,
February 20, 2009 at 2:14
I thought the Kmer Rouge were a bunch of lunatics who killed anyone who could speak French or who didn’t have callused hands from a lifetime of manual labor. Is that an old wive’s tale, or is Mona Charen just fucking wrong as usual?
Lancelot Link said,
February 20, 2009 at 3:04
As someone who actually is “spun” regularly on KCRW & has been for the past decade, I’ll have you know my neo-yuppie lounge imitation uses real cocktails and is HARD AS A ROCK, and would like to offer you a nice cup of STFU. Thank you!
handy said,
February 20, 2009 at 7:14
It’s not like it’s a big secret that what’s “spun” regularly on KEXP rocks the socks off of what’s “spun” regularly at KCRW. To say nothing of the Current, which everyone knows sucks enormous, mendacious, disembodied anus.