Iraq Now - A Question for Free People

About Four Years After (Once Again)

First and foremost, what do the liberated people of Iraq think? If the Iraqis now truly have freedom and democracy, then perhaps they themselves should now put it to a vote on whether they wish the US military to leave or to stay, and not the US Congress which voted for an unnecessary war of aggression. Isn't it time yet for the matter to be broached and for the question to be asked?

I suppose it's none of my business anyway. I don't consider myself a free man either.

Casualties in Najaf Battle

According to the DoD records at Lunaville's Coalition Casualty Count http://icasualties.org/oif/prdDetails.aspx?hndRef=8-2004 , only eleven US soldiers were killed in fighting in Najaf in the month of August out of sixty killed in the same period in all of Iraq. Hundreds of Sadr's militants and followers were said to have been killed along with some unknown amount of civilians. The shrine itself is to be closed for ten days and US troops will remain in the city until Allawi deems that the Iraqi police are ready to take over the job. And according to the media, the Shia leadership has called for an end to armed resistance, but the clerics later denied it. Fighting still goes on across other cities in Iraq.

Sistani Comes to Najaf

As a man of peace, Sistani came to Najaf. Will U.S. troops recede and fighting stop? I hope so, but I also wonder.

My Prediction (maybe I shouldn't say anything and just shut up from now on)

My Prediction ...

Here's what I postulate: (JMHO)



Bush is starting world war with Syria, Iran and North Korea among others just about right now. He doesn't seem to care or thinks it's the right thing to do, but America could likely be nuked and largely defeated in the world arena. And all the riches which you counted on will be lost. It may be there won't be any election in 2004 because of it; that is, there will be no election in November if the US military is largely defeated and US cities lie in radioactive ruin with the nation under martial law.

The US may well suffer some defeat because of this battle now going on in Najaf, by God - not to mention the torture at Abu Grahib. I will try to stay the course myself as well, but more than likely you will probably think I'm crazy, and you might be right. I probably shouldn't say anything at all. But, somehow I just can't see how massacring tens of thousands of innocent Iraqis and taking over their country was a Christian act. But if all you self-proclaimed "Christians" say so, then who am I to disagree? I'm still waiting for God to make good on His promises to me. Anyone can make a promise, but how many ever keep one?

I guess I just don't get it. I've heard all the rationalizations of those in power in this nation, but somehow I must be missing something important. Preemptive war doesn't seem to make all that much sense to me. Preemptive peace makes more sense I would think. Those who call me a contrarian might be right. Everyone in the world seems to be trying to make me not care anymore. They call me the fool and say my thoughts and opinions are worthless. They only try to beat me down and destroy me for fun and profit. But it is written that God is judge and power belongs to Him. The policy of this country doesn't make sense to me. Death and destruction is the path mankind is on. The sharp teeth of the war machine devours the earth and the war-profiteers live the high life.

Rumsfeld Loves It

Rumsfeld flew to Baghdad today and visited troops at Abu Ghraib prison telling them how much "fun" it is to be questioned by those troops. Maybe they should put him in the prison, strip him naked, rape him, hook him up to an electrical current and then beat him to death. He loves it! And it would be fair and just. But, it's somewhat doubtful that they would get the truth out of him anyway though. (I hope you don't mind my sarcasm.)

The Lull Before The Storm

It's been a trying two weeks since I last blogged, you might say. The marines and aircraft are still waiting for the call to strike Fallujah again. The occupation will try to make another example, I guess; and make more enemies all over Iraq and the world - an iron boot shown as the symbol of occupation. But, maybe the main story of the last week is the end of operations in Pakistan to seize or kill followers of Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda. And in other news the Muslim world seems to be gathering together and raising a call for vengeance. Yet wait a second, look out for those bombs falling all around soon again, folks! So I'll be quiet for a bit. Be ye therefore ready, or as the Boy Scouts' motto says, "Be prepared."

That Bet I Mentioned -

I guess I'll have to admit that I think the Iraqis will win this rebellion against the occupation of the "coalition", though again I'm not real certain about that outcome or the future in general.

Is it too hard to believe?

What was the plan again? Invade Iraq to get rid of terrorists and weapons of mass destruction? Or, did someone say "oil"?

It might be hard to believe that this administration never envisioned that maybe a few million snipers, civil war, or even total rebellion might happen when they thought up their plan to invade and occupy Iraq. "Bring 'em on," Bush said. And, if there weren't "terrorists" there already, it's more than likely that there are some now, and maybe a lot more in the making.

But, the oil wells are secure, aren't they? Too bad it takes miles and miles of pipeline to deliver it. Say, and where is that oil anyway; where is it going? We could probably use some about now. It seems the spigot isn't running too well. Wasn't that really what this war was about?

And when snipers do fire, the coalition war machine bombs the villages and strafes the streets with automatic firepower from helicopters and tanks. In this "crusade" by Bush, is this the "mission accomplished" of which he spoke? Is that the meaning of "Operation Iraqi Freedom" and "democracy"?

With millions of irate Muslims against about a hundred thousand troops, who has the advantage? Place your bets. Ah, the fruits and folly of empire ... death, destruction, rebellion and yet still plenty of slaves to go around. But then again, no oil = no economy it would seem in this day and age. If only we could harvest that cosmic energy that Nikola Tesla talked about. (Those crazy "free energy" enthusiasts!) Is there no hope for a better world today?

Saddam - bin Laden

* Or Here Comes Osama Claus

On 9/11/2001 after the planes hit the twin towers and the damage was done, the Bush administration ordered all planes grounded except one peculiar one, the plane carrying the members of the bin Laden family out of the US to safety far from these stricken shores.

Later, the US goes after Osama and his terrorist organization by sweeping over Afghanistan and bombing the Taliban and their children. Osama bin Laden they let escape.

Then instead of finishing the job, they determine to attack Iraq preemptively and depose Saddam Hussein who had nothing to do with the terrorist attacks and was no particular threat to the USA.

So now they have Saddam, occupy Iraq, and have tentative control of its oil. But, that won't do them much good if Osama bin Laden and his followers are not prevented from acquiring the nuclear weapons currently in Pakistan.

And so, for Christmas this year you get continued cheap prices for oil and a terrorist threat at high alert.

Merry Christmas.

Commentary*

*Right now I'll leave the commentary to others because I'm a little tired. Maybe the American people will listen and pay some attention to what Mr. Putin has to say, but probably not.

-------------

From AFP at Australian Broadcasting Corp.: Fri., Dec. 19, 2003 1:03am(AEDT)
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s1013128.htm

Iraq war was unjustified, Putin says

... "The use of force abroad, according to existing international laws, can only be sanctioned by the United Nations. This is the international law," Mr Putin said in an annual live televised question-and-answer session. ... "I must say that in all times, great countries, empires, always suffered a series of problems that complicated their situation - this was a feeling of invulnerability, a feeling of grandeur, and a feeling that it never sins," ...

--------------------------

Commentary From Joe Vialls: 20 December 2003
http://www.joevialls.co.uk/subliminalsuggestion/whatshisname.html

America Commits Suicide in Iraq
They should have left bearded whatshisname in the hole
Copyright Joe Vialls

... "The bottom line is that Cheney, Wolfowitz and Rumsfeld have taken the brakes off a giant million-man Shi'ite war machine called the Mehdi Army, and all Moqtada al-Sadr has to do now to start it rolling, is turn the ignition key. Remember, the Shi'ite Mehdi Army brackets all American exfiltration routes south towards Kuwait, which is the only way out for 110,000+ American servicemen." ... "Put simply, the U.S. political leadership is deliberately undermining the U.S. military, in order to assist in the subordination and partial destruction of the American people."

----------------------

Lessons on How To Oppress and Subjugate

-----------------------------------------

From The New York Times: December 7, 2003
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/07/international/middleeast/07TACT.html?pagewanted=print&position=
Tough New Tactics by U.S. Tighten Grip on Iraq Towns
By DEXTER FILKINS
ABU HISHMA, Iraq, Dec. 6 — As the guerrilla war against Iraqi insurgents intensifies, American soldiers have begun wrapping entire villages in barbed wire. In selective cases, American soldiers are demolishing buildings thought to be used by Iraqi attackers. They have begun imprisoning the relatives of suspected guerrillas, in hopes of pressing the insurgents to turn themselves in. ... American officials say they are not purposefully mimicking Israeli tactics, but they acknowledge that they have studied closely the Israeli experience in urban fighting. Ahead of the war, Israeli defense experts briefed American commanders on their experience in guerrilla and urban warfare. The Americans say there are no Israeli military advisers helping the Americans in Iraq. ...

From The New Yorker: Issue of 2003-12-15, Posted 2003-12-08
http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/?031215fa_fact
MOVING TARGETS
by SEYMOUR M. HERSH
... An American who has advised the civilian authority in Baghdad said, “The only way we can win is to go unconventional. We’re going to have to play their game. Guerrilla versus guerrilla. Terrorism versus terrorism. We’ve got to scare the Iraqis into submission.” ...

From The Guardian: Tuesday December 9, 2003
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1102940,00.html
Israel trains US assassination squads in Iraq
By Julian Borger in Washington
Israeli advisers are helping train US special forces in aggressive counter-insurgency operations in Iraq, including the use of assassination squads against guerrilla leaders, US intelligence and military sources said yesterday. The Israeli Defence Force (IDF) has sent urban warfare specialists to Fort Bragg in North Carolina, the home of US special forces, and according to two sources, Israeli military "consultants" have also visited Iraq. ... US special forces teams are already behind the lines inside Syria attempting to kill foreign jihadists before they cross the border ...

------------------------------

At Asia Times: Nov 26, 2003
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Korea/EK26Dg01.html
Bush's North Korea policy still a shambles
(By Aidan Foster-Carter)
George W Bush:
"Not every situation needs to be resolved through military action. And I would cite to you North Korea and Iran," he told British newspapers.

..................

Also a comment I posted at Baltimore Independent Media:
http://baltimore.indymedia.org/newswire/display/5735/index.php
Of the ways for Bush to retain his office, one is to rig the election again and another is an emergency that requires the implementation of martial law. and due to his policies he will have plenty of opportunities to enflame present crises. Here's just one (and another one could be a war for oil in the Caspian Sea arena with Russia as an opponent):
[I've been saying this for a long time - that I don't expect a fair election in 2004, or even any election at all. But, in other news today, Al Gore endorsed Howard Dean's campaign.]

From AP at Yahoo: Tue Dec 9, 7:16 AM ET
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20031209/ap_on_re_as/k
N. Korea Sets Condition for Halting Nukes
By SANG-HUN CHOE, Associated Press Writer
SEOUL, South Korea - North Korea said Tuesday it will freeze its nuclear weapons program if Washington takes the communist country off its list of terrorism-sponsoring nations and provides fuel aid. If this demand is met by the United States, North Korea also said it will join a second round of six-nation talks aimed at persuading Pyongyang to dismantle its nuclear weapons programs. North Korea would "freeze" its nuclear activities in exchange for "measures such as the U.S. delisting the DPRK as a 'terrorism sponsor,' lift of the political, economic and military sanctions and blockade and energy aid including the supply of heavy fuel oil and electricity by the U.S. and neighboring countries," a spokesman for North Korea's Foreign Ministry was quoted as saying by its official news agency, KCNA. ... "This would lay a foundation for furthering the six-way talks," the spokesman said. "What is clear is that in no case the DPRK would freeze its nuclear activities unless it is rewarded." ...

From AP at My Way News: Dec 9, 4:34 PM (ET)
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20031209/D7VB3VM00.html
U.S. Rejects New N. Korea Offer on Nukes
By SOO-JEONG LEE
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - North Korea announced Tuesday it would freeze its nuclear weapons projects in return for the United States providing energy aid and removing Pyongyang from a list of countries that sponsor terrorism. President Bush rejected the offer. ... "The goal of the United States is not for a freeze of the nuclear program," Bush said at a White House news conference with Premier Wen Jiabao of China, which is spearheading the drive to resume talks with North Korea. "The goal is to dismantle a nuclear weapons program in a verifiable and irreversible way," Bush said. "That is the clear message we are sending to the North Koreans." ... Under its initial proposal, North Korea would declare its willingness to give up nuclear development, allow nuclear inspections, give up missiles exports and finally dismantle its nuclear weapons facilities. In return, it demanded economic and humanitarian aid, security assurances, diplomatic ties and new power plants. ...

----------------------------------------------------

US troops are learning from the Israelis how to enrage and oppress people whose lands they occupy (not that they need any help), and Bush is showing NKorea what a tough negotiator and "diplomat" he is by accepting no terms and expecting to get whatever he wants for nothing. [I shouldn't say for nothing. It's the threat of nuclear war that he uses as a bargaining chip.]

So, When WILL Democracy Come To Iraq?

.
From The White House: November 6, 2003 11:05 A.M. EST
President Bush Discusses Freedom in Iraq and Middle East
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/11/20031106-2.html
George W. Bush:
"The regime in Teheran must heed the democratic demands of the Iranian people, or lose its last claim to legitimacy" ...
"The establishment of a free Iraq at the heart of the Middle East will be a watershed event in the global democratic revolution. ... the United States has adopted a new policy, a forward strategy of freedom in the Middle East. ... "

From The NYT: December 4, 2003
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/04/international/middleeast/04CENS.html?pagewanted=print&position=
U.S. Rejects Iraqi Plan to Hold Census by Summer, By JOEL BRINKLEY
BAGHDAD, Iraq, Dec. 3 — Iraqi census officials devised a detailed plan to count the country's entire population next summer and prepare a voter roll that would open the way to national elections in September. But American officials say they rejected the idea, and the Iraqi Governing Council members say they never saw the plan to consider it. The practicality of national elections is now the subject of intense debate among Iraqi and American officials, who are trying to move forward on a plan to give Iraqis sovereignty next summer. As the American occupation officials rejected the plan to compile a voter roll rapidly, they also argued to the Governing Council that the lack of a voter roll meant national elections were impractical. The American plan for Iraqi sovereignty proposes instead a series of caucus-style, indirect elections. ...

-------------------------

Bush chides Iran that it is not democratic and yet champions his own cause in saying that he is bringing democracy and freedom to Iraq? If Bush lets the Iraqi people vote, do you think that they will vote to let Bush keep their oil and let the troops stay?

For Today, a Little Irony

News from Iraq - Irony, or should I say "spin"? Provided by Lieutenant-General Ricardo Sanchez and Reuters:


Seven Spaniards, Two Japanese Die in Iraq Attacks
By Luke Baker

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Seven Spanish intelligence agents were killed in Iraq on Saturday in an attack on their unmarked vehicles south of Baghdad, Spanish Defense Minister Federico Trillo said, the latest assault on a close American ally.

In Japan, the Foreign Ministry said two Japanese diplomats were also killed in an apparent ambush near Tikrit, hometown of Iraq's ousted leader Saddam Hussein about 110 miles north of the capital.

Reports of the killings came hours after the top military commander in Iraq said attacks against U.S. forces had fallen sharply in recent weeks, despite figures showing November to be the deadliest month for U.S. troops since the war began in March.

Lieutenant-General Ricardo Sanchez said anti-American insurgents had struck fewer times in the past seven days than in the previous week and put the reduction down to more aggressive tactics by U.S. forces. ...

Iraqis Want UN Resolution to End U.S. Occupation

November 24, 2003
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/international/international-iraq-un.html?pagewanted=print&position=

Iraqis Want UN Resolution to End U.S. Occupation
By REUTERS

Filed at 6:47 p.m. ET

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Iraq's interim authority on Monday submitted a timetable for self-rule and asked the U.N. Security Council for a new resolution that would end the U.S.-led occupation in June.

The timetable, worked out with U.S. and British officials, was due on Dec. 15 and arrived three weeks early. It was requested in an Oct. 16 Security Council resolution, which created a multinational force in Iraq.

Jalal Talabani, the current president of the Iraqi Governing Council, in a letter pledged respect for human rights and promised to establish the ``principle of civilian control over the Iraqi armed and security forces.''

The 24-member U.S.-appointed council said it would select a ``provisional legislative body'' no later than May 31, 2004.

This assembly would elect a provisional government by the end of June 2004 at which time ``the Coalition Provisional Authority will be dissolved and the occupation ... will end,'' the letter said. ...

Talabani's letter did not mention continued deployment of U.S. and other foreign troops. But it is assumed that a new provisional government in June will request that they stay. ...

...................

What are they talking about? This occupation isn't planned to end. George W. Bush's corporate America has taken over their country and their oil, and I doubt he's going to give it back now, not even if they have to nuke every city in Iraq. He's already told them the troops aren't leaving until his brand of "freedom" reigns.

If America can't gid rid of the Bush cartel, how can the Iraqis expect to? Maybe they can get Iran and China to help. Be afraid. Be very afraid.

Yesterday in Mosul ...

November 24, 2003
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/24/international/middleeast/24IRAQ.html?pagewanted=print&position=
2 G.I.'s, Throats Slashed, Found Dead in Iraq
By IAN FISHER and DEXTER FILKINS
BAGHDAD, Iraq, Nov. 23 — Three American soldiers were killed in Iraq on Sunday, including two whose throats were slashed after they came under attack in the northern city of Mosul with rocks and gunfire, a military official said. In Baquba, a city north of Baghdad where at least five people were killed in a suicide bombing on Saturday, a soldier from the Fourth Infantry Division was killed Sunday by a roadside bomb, the American military reported. Two other soldiers were injured. In Mosul, the soldiers' car crashed after they were attacked with rocks, the military official said, and it was uncertain if they were killed by the accident, the later gunfire or by knife wounds. Witnesses in Mosul — where attacks on American soldiers have risen in recent weeks — were quoted by news services as saying that crowds also pummeled the soldiers' bodies and looted their car. ...

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&e=1&u=/ap/20031123/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq
Three U.S. Soldiers Killed in Iraq
Sun Nov 23, 6:35 PM ET
By MARIAM FAM, Associated Press Writer
MOSUL, Iraq - Iraqi teenagers dragged two bloodied U.S. soldiers from a wrecked vehicle and pummeled them with concrete blocks Sunday, witnesses said, describing the killings as a burst of savagery in a city once safe for Americans. ...


Just one more example of those grateful, happy Iraqis continuing to celebrate their "liberation" with flowers, kisses, and dancing in the streets. Don't ya just feel the love? (Please excuse my sarcasm.)