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WHEN BUSH COMES TO SHOVE
Let's ignore the immorality of the US attack on Iraq for the
moment since the Bush administration obviously is not guided
by morals. Both Bush and Blair are self-proclaimed Christians
who are convinced God is on their side in their war on Iraq,
although the Pope and millions of other people around the world
clearly are not. Bush and Blair are nevertheless deaf and blind
to the Biblical admonitions "Thou shalt not kill" and
"Those who live by the sword shall die by it."
Instead they exhibit a sense of self-righteousness that makes
them intransigent and impervious to worldwide condemnation of
this unprovoked attack on a country that is basically defenceless
against the massive military might of the US. The US has a preference
for attacking countries that pose no serious reciprocal threat,
for example Grenada and Panama.
The US prior to the attack was already responsible for the deaths
of about 500,000 Iraqi children who died, according to UNICEF,
for a lack of food and medical supplies caused by 12 years of
cruel sanctions. Moreover at least 100,000 Iraqis were slaughtered
in the Gulf War, including retreating defenceless soldiers who
were strafed by US planes on the so-called Highway of Death which
one American compared to "shooting fish in a barrel"
since there was no escape. By contrast not a single American
has been killed by Iraqis on US soil. So much for Iraq posing
a threat to the US.
Apart from the immorality of this war it may well turn out to
be one of the biggest strategic blunders the US has ever made.
Here is why:
1. The so-called preemptive attack is a violation of the UN
charter and international law and sets a very dangerous precedent.
For example, China could use this precedent for invading Taiwan.
2.The war will launch the largest terrorist recruitment program
ever for in the eyes of most of the world's 1.2 billion Muslims
the attack on Iraq is seen as an attack on Islam. .
3. It will increase the already huge deficit of the US and cause
its shaky economy to plummet to critical lows.
4. It will destabilize the already unstable situation in the
Middle East even more with political upheavals not even the brightest
pundits can foresee.
5. It will generate worldwide hostility towards the US as never
before.
6. It will isolate the US from the international community of
nations.
7. Instead of the peace and security the US claims it wants,
it will experience new acts of terrorism against US interests
both in and outside the US.
In the meantime the US government propaganda machine is in
high gear to deceive the public. A few examples:
1. Claim: Iraq is a danger to its neighbours. Fact: Iraq is
much weaker now than it was in 1991. Saddam Hussein is brutal,
but not stupid. He knows any attack by Iraq on its neighbours
would invite massive military retaliation.
2. Claim: Iraq was involved in the attack of 9/11. Fact: Among
the 19 hijackers, 15 were Saudis and NONE were Iraqis. No hard
evidence has ever been produced that shows Iraq was involved
in the 9/11 aerial assaults.
3. Claim: Iraq supports Al Queda. Fact: No verifiable connection
has ever been proven.
4. Claim: There is irrefutable evidence Iraq has many weapons
of mass destruction. Fact: After four months of unrestricted
searches by UN inspectors no such weapons were found.
5. Claim: the US wants to 'liberate" the Iraqi people. Fact:
If most Iraqis would prefer Americans over their present government,
the US would not need 300,000 troops and billions of dollars
of military hardware to overthrow the Ba'ath government which,
by the way, the US helped seize power and assisted militarily
in its war against Iran. (Ba'ath, which means resurrection or
renaissance in Arabic, is a socialist, secular party which is
also in power in Syria).
6. Claim: The US wants to bring democracy to Iraq. Fact: First
of all it is worth noting that the US itself is not a true democracy.
(The people with the most power in the US government are members
of the cabinet and the National Security Council. With the exception
of the president and vice-president, all others are appointed
rather than elected. Speaking of 'democratic' elections, ' Al
Gore received the largest number of votes in the last presidential
election and LOST!) As for US support of democracies abroad it
has helped overthrow several democracies, e.g. the Mossadeq government
in Iran, the Allende government in Chile and the Arbenz government
in Guatemala. By contrast it has supported many dictators, including
Somoza in Nicaragua, Marcos in the Philippines, Stroessner in
Paraguay, the Shah of Iran and so on. In 1991 the US liberated
Kuwait. Did the US establish a democracy in Kuwait? Hardly: Kuwaiti
women still can't vote!
7. Claim: Iraq is a threat to the region and the US wants to
protect its neighbours. Fact: If Iraq did not have huge oil reserves
it is doubtful Bush would even know Hussein's name. As for weapons
of mass destruction, no country has more than the US and only
the US has used nuclear weapons of mass destruction on civilian
populations.
Bush referred to his decision to attack Iraq as "the
moment of truth.." It is a strange term to use for a man
so steeped in distorting the truth that it makes one recall other
masters of deceiving the public:
"If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it,
people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained
only for such time as the State can shield the people from the
political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie.
It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of
its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy
of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth becomes the greatest
enemy of the State." Dr. Joseph M. Goebbels
"The people can always be brought to the bidding of
the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they
are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of
patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same
in any country." Herman Goering
What the US has failed to achieve in Iraq with threats, intimidation
and humiliation (No-fly zones, brutal sanctions, snooping around
the country) it is now attempting to get with force, death and
destruction. Bush and Blair claim they are raining bombs and
missiles on Iraq to achieve peace. That reminds one of another
failed US military policy dating back to Vietnam when soldiers
were ordered to 'destroy the village to save it.' That policy
did not work either and for the same reason: you can't put out
a fire with gasoline nor make friends by destroying their country
and killing their people. |
