by Starman » Fri Aug 12, 2005 12:58 am
A brutally-candid POV by an Iraqi who describes how completely annihilated Iraq's civil society has now become -- where the only 'law' is Force of Arms and the citizens have lost all hope in a better tomorrow. How could anybody fail to percieve this would be the consequences of the fantastically-reckless, barbarian actions of poorly-led, undisciplinced troops who were ordered into combat without a comprehensive post-war plan for securing the nation and rebuilding a viable civil society? <br><br>Imagine the 'lesson' to other Middle East states as they see the results of unsuccessfully defending themselves from western military aggression? Could that have been the plan all along, as the continuous examples of errors, tragic mistakes, stupid decisions, and reckless idiocy of the civilian and military officials seem to suggest? Some writers have suggested that complete chaos was always the US's real agenda. <br><br>In any case, I find the US's brutality and irresponsibility in causing such widespread suffering and civil collapse to have serious, long-lasting consequences in the region, around the world and within the US, that can't help but provoke desperate assymetrical warfare attacks. Lets be very clear -- the biggest danger to global security and peace is the US military-political culture whose only product or service is to increase suffering, misery and death. This debacle, an example of America's criminal agenda and its blatant hypocricy, will likely cause a huge rift between west and east that will cause conflict and incredible suffering for generations, as America acts like it hasn't a CLUE why it is so widely despised and distrusted. Seems, compassion and understanding are no longer attributes of value for America's leaders (sic).<br><br>Violence is the TRUE legacy of the west's glorious western political-economic system, as its many contradictions and miscalculations and flawed assumptions are 'corrected' with plunder and destruction. It's no wonder so many Americans would rather not know what's done in their names -- They just don't have the stomach for it. And after all, who needs the courage of their convictions when the cheesy platitude 'Support Our Troops!' covers such a multitude of moral crimes and outrages? It's so much easier too ...<br><br>Starman<br>***<br><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK START--><a href="http://www.azzaman.com/english/index.asp?fname=opinion\2005-08-08\10477.htm">www.azzaman.com/english/i...\10477.htm</a><!--EZCODE AUTOLINK END--><br><br>The gates of hell<br>By Jamal Mudhafar<br>Azzaman, August 7, 2005<br><br>The headline of this article is not a title of a science fiction film. It truthfully translates what is currently taking place in Iraq. <br><br>The gates of hell are now wide open – thanks to U.S. invasion – and their fires have enveloped almost everything in our country.<br><br>There is no electricity, no water, no fuel, no food rations, no security, no sewage …<br><br>There is terror everywhere and there is fear of everything – fear of the present and of what lies ahead in the future.<br><br>All indications tell that our future is bleak as there is nothing left in this country that makes you feel secure about your own future and that of your children.<br><br>What is happening is not a war, rebellion or insurgency. It is mass killing and annihilation coupled with torture and brutal and barbaric dismembering of innocent people.<br><br>Bombing and shelling of towns goes ahead and no one gives a damn for the lives lost and property damaged.<br><br>Politicians have not honored any of the promises they made during elections. There is a dangerous decline in the public services and government performance.<br><br>The shock we have received since U.S. troops landed in our midst and the new is beyond description.<br><br>Fear and terror have gripped the nation. Wherever you are at any time of the day you are liable to be killed by a stray bullet.<br><br>Stray bullets are no longer the prerogative of U.S. troops and their tormentors – the insurgents.<br><br>Almost everyone in Iraq now use their guns to shoot in order to scare, wound or kill.<br><br>If the bodyguards of a senior official want to reach a destination on time and are delayed by traffic jam, they fire in the air to scare other drivers to give way.<br><br>If someone is injured or killed as a result it is his or her problem.<br><br>Killing by mistake is now perhaps one of the main causes of death in Iraq.<br><br>Trust between the people and the government has collapsed. And now we are at the mercy of the stars because neither U.S. troops nor the government have the slightest idea of who is blowing up whom and why?<br><br> <br><br><br> <p></p><i></i>
