Article and photograph by our Middle East correspondent Reuben Brand
A contemporary history soaked in blood, a humanitarian disaster in Iraq and Afghanistan, a new US President promising “change” and what have we learnt? Nothing. Writes Reuben Brand
The past eight years of our history have been marred with violent bloodshed, war, fear, terrorism, propaganda and countless loss of life – there are a myriad of questions that need to be asked and answered in order to make any kind of logical sense of this mess, one reoccurring theme is the role America plays surrounding our dark devolution into the new millennium.
Throughout my travels in the Middle East and surrounds, I frequently hear the same issue being raised, “America is a very big problem.” It doesn’t matter whether I am in Pakistan, Syria, Oman, Kuwait, or any other place of interest, the sentiment remains the same: “America is a very big problem.”
Contemporary history as we know it began on September 11 2001, when two iconic towers fell in New York and over 2700 lives were lost.
As tragic as any loss of life is, are we expected to believe that the deaths of 9/11 could possibly justify the invasion of Afghanistan, the systematic detainment, torture and abuse of countless civilians on no charge other than suspicion, the illegal invasion of Iraq on the premise of weapons of mass destruction, and the brutal deaths of 6.6 million Afghanis (both violent and avoidable) and 1.2 million Iraqis?
Are we really expected to believe that these wars, these humanitarian disasters, that have shattered the lives and homes of millions of Afghanis and Iraqis leaving them as destitute refugees; these wars that have completely destroyed two countries – which now conveniently have US backed puppets installed as their “democratic” leaders, are being fought to ensure the safety and freedom of the West, primarily America, from some form of barbaric terrorism? Does anyone else not see the irony in this?
Keep the West safe from terrorists by terrorising everyone who looks, dresses and sounds different. Especially those who don’t agree with the doctrine or ideology of the worlds super power. “If it looks like the enemy, shoot it!” were the rules of engagement given to Sergeant Ken Davis on his first tour of Iraq. Yes, I tend to agree with the sentiment of the region – “America is a very big problem.”
Any honest person would have to ask the question “why didn’t America invade the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia?” We all know that Iraq and Afghanistan had nothing to do with 9/11. We all know that Al Qaeda is primarily a Saudi backed organisation, its leader, Osama bin Laden, is a Saudi and it was 19 men, all Saudi nationals, spare a few, who hijacked three planes, flew two into the World Trade Centre and one into the Pentagon. This is all common knowledge.
Al Qaeda attacks America, so America in all its wisdom and “intelligence” decimates Afghanistan and leads a pre-emptive strike and invasion of Iraq – go figure.
In an address to the nation on March 17, 2003, just two days before the horrific Shock and Awe bombing of Baghdad, former US President George W. Bush stated, as fact, that “Intelligence gathered by this and other governments leaves no doubt that the Iraq regime continues to posses and conceal some of the most lethal weapons ever devised.”
The only weapons of sizable measure found in Iraq were the weapons US and coalition forces used to kill 1.2 million Iraqis.
There were no WMDs in Iraq, we all know that.
Perhaps Bush, in one of his many dyslexic moments got the word WMD mixed up with MWD, a term used by geo physicists whilst surveying and drilling for oil. Measurement While Drilling to be exact. There are plenty of MWDs in Iraq – not exactly a threat to global security, more like an asset to financial security.
The US government mislead its own people, lied to the world and created a war deemed illegal under international law. A war that continues to be in grave violation of the Geneva Conventions. A war for which we are all now paying the price.
Lord Bingham, one of Britain’s most authoritative judicial figures and retired senior law lord, delivered a speech in late 2008 regarding the invasion of Iraq. “If I am right that the invasion of Iraq by the US, the UK, and some other states was unauthorised by the Security Council there was, of course, a serious violation of international law and the rule of law,” he said.
Bingham continued with explicit reference to the mistreatment of Iraqi detainees in Abu Ghraib: “Particularly disturbing to proponents of the rule of law is the cynical lack of concern for international legality among some top officials in the Bush administration,” he added.
Ok, so we have a fair idea of why Iraq was invaded, but what about Afghanistan? The US says it is looking for Bin Laden – with all the technology in the world and they still can’t find him? It makes you wonder that perhaps Afghanistan has something more valuable on offer.
It does – Afghanistan holds the keys to the rich natural gas and oil of the Caspian Basin, which will be transported through the yet to be developed Trans Afghan Pipeline – a blueprint the US has had on the backburner for some years now. Once implemented, this lucrative pipeline will hungrily carry all the natural resources it possibly can across Afghanistan, down into the seaport of Gwadar in South-Western Pakistan.
Afghanistan’s border with Pakistan also allows the US to keep pressure on the only Islamic country to possess nuclear weapons. Pakistan posses a serious threat to US control in the region – ‘destabilise and disarm’ is the general theme, how it will be played out is yet to be seen.
Just as Bush propagated his lies about Iraq concealing some of the “most lethal weapons ever devised,” President Obama, six years on, remarked on March 27 this year that “we are in Afghanistan to confront a common enemy that threatens the United States, our friends and allies – So I want the American people to understand that we have a clear and focused goal: to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al Qaeda in Pakistan and Afghanistan.”
Slightly more eloquent than his predecessor, but it is more or less the same old rhetoric.
In a White Paper from the Interagency Policy Group’s Report on U.S. Policy toward Afghanistan and Pakistan it was stated that “in Pakistan, al Qaeda and other groups of jihadist terrorists are planning new terror attacks. Their targets remain the U.S. homeland, Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Europe, Australia, our allies in the Middle East, and other targets of opportunity.” Well that just about covers the globe, so according to this report al Qaeda is planning to destroy the entire world. Quite ambitious for a group whose leader lives in a cave.
Obama delivered another speech earlier in the year about “responsibly ending the war in Iraq.” Desperate to try to turn the humanitarian disaster that America created into some kind of humanitarian aid mission, Obama made it clear that “America’s men and women in uniform have fought block by block, province by province, year after year, to give the Iraqis this chance to choose a better future. Now, we must ask the Iraqi people to seize it,” he said.
To seize what? A country that you destroyed? It’s a farcical remark. The whole idea of an irresponsible country preaching about “responsibly ending the war in Iraq,” is ludicrous. The responsible thing to do would have been not to invade in the first place.
Obama then went on to portray US military violence and aggression as acts of friendship and kindness.
“Our nations have known difficult times together. But ours is a bond forged by shared bloodshed, and countless friendships among our people. We Americans have offered our most precious resource – our young men and women – to work with you to rebuild what was destroyed by despotism – So to the Iraqi people, let me be clear about America’s intentions. The United States pursues no claim on your territory or your resources. We respect your sovereignty and the tremendous sacrifices you have made for your country.”
The pre-emptive strike doctrine, the shock and awe campaign, the routine torture and humiliation of innocent civilians at Abu Ghraib and the countless other war crimes perpetrated by the US tells us another story about respecting sovereignty.
So what have we achieved over the past eight years of blood thirsty war? Is the world a safer place now? No. Of course it isn’t. We have achieved more mistrust, more hatred, a new arms race, more support for the Taliban and other insurgency groups and most devastatingly we have achieved on average, the violent deaths of over 2670 Afghanis and Iraqis everyday for the past eight years. Congratulations, what an achievement.
There are no quick fixes, but it’s about time Team America backed off and stopped trying to police the world – their vigilante actions create a pile of bodies wherever they go. Honestly ask yourself if the past eight years of bloodshed has been worth it.
Reuben Brand is an Australian Freelance Journalist currently based in the Middle East. For more information please visit his website at www.reubenbrand.com
gerard oosterman said:
Ok, since you asked.
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astyages said:
Where’s Mulga Mumblebrain when you need him?
😉
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Warrigal said:
Sadly not here.
I did have a vast project all gee’d up to find him in the wilds of SA based on what I summised, from disparate information, was his real name.
You know I might yet do it. Christmas might be just the time. (or not.)
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Julian said:
Or hers? !!
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H said:
Julian, you did like that pretty dress…(that was discussed on Mike’s Konfuusing story)…
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H said:
I believe Voice found him/her writing on some forum or other. She might be able to help you. I miss Mulga too.
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Julian said:
Pretty dress?? Vaguely! I think that I wrote something. But, you know the memory…
I feel: ..
“You are old, father William,” the young man cried,
“The few locks which are left you are grey;
You are hale, father William, a hearty old man;
now tell me the reason, I pray.”
“In the days of my youth,” father William replied,
“I remember’d that youth would fly past,
And abus’d not my health and my vigour at first,
That I never might need them at last.”
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Julian said:
Helvi, I just revisited the Kung foo sing piece.
Firstly it doesn’t seem a year ago.
And secondly, there is enough material there to pack a goon show episode- or evidence for Real Asylum.
I had a chuckle, or chortle as Emmjay wrote the other day. And beat me to its usage by 10 hours or so!
I’ve had two birthdays since then.
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H said:
This is very Kungfoosing, if you ask me. Maybe Mulga had a new dress for her birthday; so you both have only had one birthday each?
We just watched Taggert and Gez said that he could not understand anything, too konfoosing with all that Scottish accent…
Then he asked me who was the killer, I had to confess that I did not get it either; an hour wasted…
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Julian said:
I’m watching Rockwizz …love it!!
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Emmjay said:
So was I, Jules. It was a brilliant show, wasn’t it !
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Julian said:
Aha, there you are down there in the boon docks Emm. I had to send out a search party with a cut lunch.
Yes the hosting by Julia is great. A mix of extreme caj/caz, exuberant bonhomie; silliness and good music.
The resident band is very accomplished; playing absolutely anything with aplomb and mastery.
And the guests are great, often duetting, even if they are from different genres. The overseas guests give the show a transfusion, if the plasma gets a bit too interbred.
Took me a couple of shows to get into the blue Aussie singlet and the scrawly signs.
Big day today! hopefully finish the kitchen for relading and off to The Farmer’ Market to pick up Chritmas provisions, tht were ordered two weeks ago.
Reuben thanks for tolerating a it of chat on your blog. I still have a note in my head for you , but haven’t been able to put it into words yet.
*Nanny Goat……………..*Cockney Rhyming slang for throat.
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Emmjay said:
I really appreciate the house band. James Black on keyboard and guitar – is amazing – and Pert Lucky Luscombe on drums is also right up there. The bass guy must be good since I think he’s nearly invisible !
I can leave the singlet and Brian Nankervis though…..
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Reuben Brand said:
No probs – good to see some discussion happening.
Haha – the rhyming slang – now that makes a lot more sense. Was wondering what the hell crimble had to do with nanny goats…? 😉 “nanny goat?… maybe its the opposite to billy goat…?” I thought to myself… “yeah nanny goat, must be a female goat farmer of some strange description..”
Have a good chrissy mate.
Cheers.
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gerard said:
Reuben,
Keep wearing your heart on your sleeve. There is a drought of hearts, more severe than ever.
It never will hurt as much as not.
Please keep ranting, especially against what that beacon of ‘freedom and democracy’, the US , has come to represent in so many parts of the world.
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Reuben Brand said:
Thanks for the kind words Gerard.
I’m affraid that wearing the old heart on the sleeve gets a bit messy sometimes – but it is firmly attached and as long as I can hold a pen or type, will remain there.
Nothing better than a good ol rant sometimes – although it would seem that I have caused a Thomas Gradgrind style debate of “fact vs fancy” straight out of Charles Dickens’ novel “Hard Times.”
Cheers,
R.
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astyages said:
Ah… at last some debate in the front bar of the Pigs… about time too. A brave effort and strong critique by Voice and Reuben’s position nobly defended by Mirriyuula… I’m just gonna sit back and enjoy this one!
😉
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Mirriyuula said:
Rube, I remember that monkey.
Isn’t he “Monkey Do”?
Or maybe he’s one of the Three Evil Monkeys. “Oppress More People, Torture More People, Kill More People.”
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Reuben Brand said:
The very same my friend…
He gets around.
“See no evil” tragically stepped on a landmine
“Speak no evil” was water-boarded in Gitmo
“Hear no evil” now writes for Murdoch… Pay peanuts – get monkeys.
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Voice said:
Go Reuben.
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Julian said:
I watched a programme the other night featuring John Simpson, Robin Knox Johnson and Ranulph Fiennes (what glorious names). It must have been on ABC or SBS, since with the advent of HD broadcasting these programmes are riveting- and are very much our first port of call early evening.
They travelled up to the Khyber pass and spent the night there, even though there was ‘danger in then thar hills’!
Simpson conducted a live broadcast back to England and it was fascinating to be the fly on he wall.
However my main point is that one could see the terrain of Tora Bora where Bin Laden was originally given Sanctuary..And OMG talk about inaccessible! I think impenetrable would be apt.
I reckon Rumpelstiltskin is in there somewhere too.
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Julian said:
Obama says,”we are in Afghanistan to confront a common enemy that threatens the United States, our friends and allies – So I want the American people to understand that we have a clear and focused goal: to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat al Qaeda in Pakistan and Afghanistan.”
You seem to think that they are there for a non existent pipeline.
Can you substantiate that?
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Mirriyuula said:
The real question is can Obama substantiate his position given that he doesn’t seem to making much of a fist of it.
Today’s Taliban may be next centuries great spiritual hope. Ask Ratzinger what he thinks of Torquemarda, or Rowan Williams whether he agrees with Cromwell and Cranmer’s action against the Catholics of the day.
There’s probably been more murder done in the name of asinine human ideology than any other form of murder.
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Julian said:
Well I didn’t want to deliver a lecture here to Reuban, but I had thought that, “the past eight years”, could have read, “the past eight thousand years”.
I believe that The Taliban will eventually give up supporting Al Qeada. I mean it’s not bringing them much benefit really.
I read about Obama regularly putting in 11 hour sessions with his advisers and strategists over the last 3 months. Of course he has quandaries; it goes with the territory.
It’s easy for observers in safe countries to call for troops to leave, but let me ask this! What should we do if Al Qeada blatently set up large terrorist camps once we are gone?
They would also have safe haven for planning more bus, train and building explosions, because:
Their stated aims are to establish a pan-Islamic Caliphate in Islamic countries and they urge their followers to kill US and Western citizens. But of course as we know they let bombs off indiscriminately killing children, Hindus, Muslims, any creed or race and any bystanders that are in the vicinity.
I am afraid that I have a real problem with this.
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Warrigal said:
The problem with our current circumstances, vis-a-vis our response to the threat of terrorism, is that we don’t know, have never known, probably can never know the real level of threat. Our security and intelligence services don’t make their assessments based on mathematical formulae. They interpret, guesstimate, look at worst case scenarios, engage in forward critical path analysis; in short they make it up most of the time. Only very rarely does solid evidence of an immediate, clear and present threat turn up.
Now I’d rather have them making it up than doing nothing, but to put our armed services in harms way on the basis of a concocted pot of tosh didn’t work out either. The problem there appeared to be at the point of handover from Intelligence ser
I accept that there are armies of evil twisted shits who’d have our heads on pikes if they could, but the real question remains, “Could they actually achieve it?”
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Reuben Brand said:
Hey there Julian,
I’m sure if we looked hard enough, Rumplestiltskin, Osama, Elvis and MJ are all in them there hills…
Re the pipelines – Just google the Trans Afghan pipeline, or the direct competition to the TAP the Iran-Pakistan-India (IPI) pipeline – Also here is an article I wrote sometime back when I was living in Pakistan. Interviewed a senoir member of the Government and he had the following to say:
http://www.reubenbrand.com/?p=919
Cheers,
R.
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Julian said:
Good Morning Reuben,
I am renovating at home . A project that gives one a sense of detachment from the real world, especially with Crimble breathing down our ‘nanny goats’. And it makes for a stilted blogging timetable.
So, just briefly, I’ll repeat my question about the follow up plan if all of the troops were to be repatriated next week?
Of course I did not need a reference about that ‘hoary old chestnut’, ‘the pipeline story’. Everyone knows that it was an idea mooted ages ago.
What I was asking you to do was show some evidence that it was a cause (or reason) for the NATO troops to go after Al Qeada in Afghanistan.
I suppose I am being petty here, since I know that you can’t do this. Just as the ex-mayor of Rawalpindi’s speculation on US policy is no more valid than Ron Clarke’s (The Gold Coast Mayor) views on Malaysia’s. In other words it’s facts we need not conspiracy theories.
Your hatred of The US unfortunately tinctures your writing from the outset.
When I see your name my mind assumes that what I am going to read is an anti-US diatribe. And so far I haven’t been wrong!
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Reuben Brand said:
Hey there Julian,
“You seem to think that they are there for a non existent pipeline. Can you substantiate that?”
Thats why I included the pipeline material – you asked for it, then disregarded it…? Oh well can’t please everyone.
OK of course if troops were dramatically withdrawn there would be huge problems – its an absurd question.
I am not asking for troops to be withdrawn in this article, I am commenting on the horrific humanitarian disaster that is now being perpetrated because of two illegal invasions and occupations. Please do not twist my words to suit your agenda.
I’m not anti American – I just strongly disagree with their policies. I don’t posses a “hatred of the US” as you so plainly put it. Obviously I have offended you horribly, I don’t know, maybe you’re American and are taking all this personally…?
I love it how commenting on America – and Israel for that matter – automatically gives one a title of “anti American” or “anti Semitic.” Whereas writing scathing articles about any Muslim country that does not bend to the will of our friends in the White House, is heralded and applauded. Because of course “they” are the enemy.
As for the “speculation” and conspiracy theories re the ex mayor of Rawalpindi – here is a man who has dedicated his entire life to fighting for his people, who has been imprisoned and beaten numerous times under the past two dictatorships for speaking out against corruption and the need for eqaulity, freedom and rights for his people. A man who whose 40 odd years in politics alone is deduced down to mere conspiracy theories by someone who compares him to the mayor of the Gold Coast… Wow.
If you want me to go into the intricacies of the Taliban in the region and Al-Qaeda we will be here for a long time. I do not support either – they are just as bad as the US when it comes to killing civillians.
And yes I have written about that too… Funny, no one came out swinging calling me “anti Taliban.”
Good luck with your renovations and goat farming.
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Hung One On said:
Hey Reuben, what happened to your job at Macca’s? Only joking, keep your head down.
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Mirriyuula said:
Would you like “lies” with that. ( The new FOX News promo line!)
(Didn’t you make this joke once before over on “Tangled Up In Chains”)
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Reuben Brand said:
They have very rigorous screening techniques these days, I’m affraid that with all the stamps to “counties of interest” on my passport, and having lived in the “Axis of Evil” for the past wee while, I just didn’t make the cut as a soft-serve sundae selling, plastic patty provider… My hopes and dreams of donning the Golden Arches uniform and having my very own name tag are crushed… Sigh…
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Voice said:
Reuben, as someone who agrees with you 110% that the US should not have invaded Iraq I urge you to do less anti-American ranting and more reportage.
I had hopes that you had gone to the Middle East to get ‘the truth’, but this article does not support that. And this is from someone who totally agrees with your final 3 paragraphs.
Stay safe.
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Mirriyuula said:
That’s an interesting critique Vox. “I don’t agree with you except where I agree with you(?)” Just which bits of Reuben’s logic do you fault? Where does his analysis become an “anti-American rant”?
There can be no doubt that Obama has better writers and a more sensitive “director of communications” than Bush, but when you slice and dice it Reuben’s still correct. The body count and the billions spent prove it. Indeed the only thing that allows me to think well of Obama in this context is my sense of how difficult it must be for him to slow or turn the US ship of state, particularly at a time of straitened financial circumstances.
War and Oil have always been good business for America and so long as world trade is underwritten in $US and the Chinese people and the private savings of the Japanese continue to underwrite America’s adventures in democracy, Obama will remain just one man, out of place, out of time and out of ideas as to how to work the miracle of change he promised. I like him personally and think him sincere. He has allowed us to feel better about ourselves and offered just the smallest glimmer of light for the future. But how much actual measurable change has there been?
The real power will remain with Congress. A bunch of highly variegated persons who share very few things in common beyond a sense of their own self importance and the certainty of America’s exceptionalism.
It is now and has always been the failing of great powers that they see not the damage they do precisely because the damage they do they do in their own name for their own purposes. These places and peoples are not seen as deserving of the same equity and justice as the powerful, precisely because they are powerless. “We know best” say the powerful. “Lay back, here comes the drill. This won’t hurt a bit.” Almost always followed by, “Oh shit we fucked up. Sorry we’ve got to be going now. We’ll call you……”
I ask simply; “Do you believe that the average Iraqi or Afghan is better off today than five years ago, or ten years ago?”
Just asking.
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Voice said:
Hey Mirri, I didn’t want to clog up the page with my opinions. But since you ask.
Firstly, could anything I said make it seem that I believe the average Iraqui is better off now? Particularly if you include the dead ones. Also, it seems reasonable to assume that the number of wounded is far great than the number of dead.
It is mainly Reuben’s analysis to which I object. But also the death toll. I have no objection to him having an opinion, but I think people always weaken their case when they misreport the facts.
First the death toll. The death toll is not known There are various estimates. He has selected the highest. He might have said an estimated 100,000 to 1.2 million. He has reported something as a known fact which is not a known fact.
“Contemporary history as we know it began on September 11 2001, when two iconic towers fell …”
Contemporary history as we now it really didn’t begin in 2001. I know Reuben didn’t mean that literally. But major American involvement in Iraq over oil goes back 60 years, and major Western involvement further again. He appears to be perpetuating George Bush’s myth that the Iraq invasion was about 9/11. Many people believe it was only the excuse, and the real reasons relates to the earlier history that Reuben discards.
“Keep the West safe from terrorists by terrorising everyone who looks, dresses and sounds different.”
That is so obviously wrong that I’m not even going to bother to point out a single counter-example. This kind of hyperbole really undermines the case.
“… the weapons US and coalition forces used to kill 1.2 million Iraqis.”
No, coalition forces did not kill 1.2 million Iraquis. The US was arguably responsible. But a substantial number of Iraquis were killed by other Iraquis in power struggles after the invasion.
“The responsible thing to do would have been not to invade in the first place”
Yes of course. And it is relevant to the point about why being lectured at by the US about responsibility in Iraq sticks in your throat. But nonetheless, the invasion did take place. Ït’s no good saying it shouldn’t have taken place so we are going to act as if it didn’t. And it should be responsibly ended insofar as that is possible. Weren’t there areas of Iraq that had degenerated into civil war, where the US forces restored rule of law? I think is what Obama is talking about.
Obama has little choice about that rhetoric. He will be out on his ear if he does not focus on the positive side of American military involvement. The Americans will not accept being led out of the Middle East by a President who can all too easily be portrayed by his enemies as being anti-American. This matters why? Because if the Senate turns completely against him, he will not be able to get any legislation through. Assuming and hoping that Obama is real about getting the US military out of Iraq, he has to say what he is saying. His objective would have to be to take the Americans with him as far as they will go, not just to impress the rest of the world with what nice thoughts he has and achieve nothing, but to actually achieve as much as possible.
Also, Iraq and Afghanistan are different cases. Again, American involvement in Afghanistan goes back well before 9/11. They sacrificed Afghanistan to a certain extent as part of their cold war strategy against Russia. But Afghanistan is arguably better off now than they were 10 years ago. Because the Taliban were a nightmare.
Iit makes more sense to say that modern history in Afghanistan started on 9/11, than in Iraq. It is however silly to say there was no justification for their military incursion into Afghanistan. Afghanistan was the base of operations for the minds behind 9/11. Under the Taliban that was going to continue.
So in summary, for me the credibility that Reuben gains by being on the spot and hearing that the Americans are a problem, is thrown away by his partisan selection of facts and biased analysis. I never get it when people do that. The Americans did enough real things wrong in Afghanistan so that it isn’t necessary. Basically, why not say that an estimated 100,000 to 1.2 million Iraquis died violently as a result of the American invasion. Rather than 1.2 million Iraquis were killed by American forces.
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Mirriyuula said:
You’re the chocolates Vox. You really are. (Please imagine a smiley emoticon accompanied by a pair of small clapping hands.)
Why didn’t you say all that in the first place. Its a very equable position and has the added advantage of being somewhat more probative than Rube’s piece, but then Rube is young and wears his heart on his sleeve where we can all be in no doubt as to his commitment to the equity and justice I mentioned earlier.
Does Rube remind anyone else of a young Pilger? Who I think remains the only journalist who’s work has coined a verb, “to Pilger”. There remains some argument as to who first coined the phrase with both Pilger’s promoters and detractors weighing in. And that strikes me as right on the zeitgeist. A word, the meaning of which is completely different depending on your political persuasion.
I think the point might be that Rube is there and this is how he feels about that. That’s good enough for me.
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Reuben Brand said:
Hey there Voice,
I like your conviction and piece by piece disection of the article – “keep the bastards honest” good to see.
Yes of course I could have reported that “that an estimated 100,000 to 1.2 million Iraqis died violently as a result of the American invasion.”
Of course I could become another “Churnalist” churning out the same old politically correct garbage that we see everyday.
Why, when there are new statistics, new evidence that shows horrendous loss of life due to an invasion and occupation that is in grave violation of international law, should I stick to the safe road and give safe numbers that are deemed acceptable to armchair analyists? No. I wont ignore new findings. This is not “collateral damage,” – a term I find abhorrent – these are people. They all have names, faces and families. Instead we give them a number.
9/11 was the trigger – I didn’t have enough room to write a history lesson on the past 60 odd years of US Middle East policy. Apologies to all those who don’t know the history of the region and how US foriegn policy/sanctions in Iraq have killed thoudands in the past – will do my best to write more on this – thanks for the heads up 😉
“… the weapons US and coalition forces used to kill 1.2 million Iraqis.” Our government is complicit in these crimes – we condoned the invasion, supported the US, sent our men and woman over to fight a war that is not ours. So yes, coalition forces are also responsible.
When you live in these countries, when you see people struggleing everyday just to survive, when people you know – family members – are blown to bits by so called Taliban, when US drone stikes continue to terrorise innocent people creating mass refugee camps, when US forces are stationed in almost every country in the M.E – those that do not have US military bases are either invaded or are apart of “the axis of evil,” when sanctions and vested interests kill thousands, when privitised covert military ops – ie: blackwater in Pakistan are used (murder by proxy), torture, Abu Ghraib, Bagram prison in Afghanistan, US outsourcing torture to other countires… the list is endless. It is very difficult not to be partisan.
I am not anti American, I just dont agree with their policy and war mongering rhetoric.
I could stick to straight, politically correct news coverage: “President Barack Obama announces an additional 30,00 troops to be sent to fight the war on terror in Afghanistan – in other news Obama wins the Nobel Peace price.” But I wont. Are there not enough churnalists doing this already?
This is the beauty of the Op-Ed – share ideas and opinions.
I do not plan to keep the status quo happy with my reportage – No. I believe robust opinion and debate are very important, so I thank you Voice for speaking your mind.
Cheers,
R.
Heres some light reading if interested:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/graham-e-fuller/global-viewpoint-obamas-p_b_201355.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2009/dec/11/kissingers-fantasy-obamas-realism
http://www.alternet.org/world/144509/why_do_airstrikes_in_afghanistan_keep_killing_exactly_30_people/
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Voice said:
Hi Reuben. Scanned the articles. I will never be well-enough informed to understand the situation in Afghanistan or Pakistan but they certainly seem compelling.
Bottom line: For me it weakens the impact of your article when you stray from actual facts into morally equivalent ‘facts’. I might be Robinson Crusoe here, in which case that would be of no interest to you. I really don’t see that distinguishing between facts and conjecture is politically correct. I think it is more about credibility. For me, and maybe it’s only me, when someone reports as a fact something that I know to be not a fact, I distrust the rest of what they write. But I am only one person and I can’t speak for anyone else.
I’m well aware that there are a lot of people who actually applaud moral equivalent ‘facts’. But is there then a possibility that you end up preaching to the converted in a positive feedback echo chamber? Leaving behind everyone else.
In any case, you are the man on the ground and I am only the armchair critic. But then, that applies to most of your readers. Not all of whom essentially agree with your position as I do. I suppose I’m being really pompous here; my excuse is that I am in the world of ideas. So hopefully you have not just witnessed first or even second hand some atrocity which makes my preaching sound too awful.
Cheers mate.
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Emmjay said:
I agree with Waz, Voice. You ARE the box of chocolates. It’s a pleasure to read your comments and the exchanges with our patrons and contributors.
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Voice said:
I appreciate the vote of confidence of the management, albeit of a degree of formality that seems oddly incongruous with its delivery by a Christmas elf named Emmjay.
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Emmjay said:
Elf ? Elf ? Super Santa, please !
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Reuben Brand said:
Hi there,
Was thinking about what you said re facts and figures – so I re-read the offensive “death toll” paragraph – I had to have a slightly red in the face chuckle to myself.
This article was originally published at Online Opinion (Dec 2) and the last editorial change I made to it was that very paragraph. It reads as follows at OLO:
“…according to analysis of UNICEF data by Australian scientist, Dr Gideon Polya, the brutal deaths of 6.6 million Afghanis (both violent and avoidable) and 1.2 million Iraqis? It is a largely disputed figure, but one that has now been published and proven by ORB, an independent UK based Research Company.”
This was meant to be published here also… In a vague moment I obviously completely forgot to send the new version to Emmjay. Oops. *goes red in the face*
Anyway – That said, no I don’t like preaching to the converted, I actually cant stand the sound of my own voice 😉
Just so you can verify here is the OLO version: http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=9753
Cheers,
R.
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Voice said:
Thank you for taking the trouble to listen to my self-righteous lecturing RB.
Of course I believed you, but I read the reference anyway. Then I googled ORB. Points for being up front that the figure is disputed. Minus points for saying it is proven. It is a statistically estimate based on a sample of 1720 people and with a self-published wide margin of error. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ORB_survey_of_Iraq_War_casualties#Methodology). FYI, you are out of date on their figure, which they revised downwards to about 1 million after increasing the number of people sampled roughly by half.
Anyway, 1 million vs 1.2 million. Or 650,000 if you were to take the other credible statistical figure available on Wikipedia. It’s not like it makes a difference to your case. It’s not really what you wanted to end up talking about though. If you had been a bit more forthright we wouldn’t be.
Also, coming across as anti-American will turn off a lot of Americans. You know, those people who vote for the American President. For me the line was “Keep the West safe from terrorists by terrorising everyone who looks, dresses and sounds different.”
I really admire you going over there and reporting.
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H said:
Good reporting, Reuben. Many thanks, hope you keeping safe!
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Warrigal said:
Shamefacedly shuffles up, offers small gift in gay wrapping. “Sorry H. Forgot your birthday.” Shuffles off again hoping no-one noticed.
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gerard oosterman said:
Ah well,
America is going to be swamped by an avalanche of calls to pay up their IOU’s to China.
This will hopefully prevent US ever undertaking any more of those murderous campaigns to other countries in the name of ‘democracy’.
There is nothing like a good dose of a badly devalued US $ dousing enthusiasm for more of those adventures.
Thanks for your excellent article, Reuben.
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astyages said:
Tell it the way it is Reuben! Nice to hear from you again, although I wish you had a happier tale to tell us… Maybe one day soon, eh?
🙂
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Reuben Brand said:
Thanks astyages,
Yeah I should definately stop listening to Loenard Cohen when I’m writing… Happy tales are coming…
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astyages said:
My favorite Leonard Cohen album was entitled, ‘Songs to Slash Your Wrists By’, I think…
Or are you referring obliquely to my recent post responding to a certain article of Zionist propaganda on UL/Drum, in which I quoted Leonard Cohen’s ‘The Story of Isaac’:
“You who build these altars now
To sacrifice these children
You must not do it any more!
A dream is not a vision
And you never have been tempted
By a demon or a god…”
Of course, that was aimed at the Zionists, not yourself; you’re one of the ‘good guys’ Reuben… and as Gez has suggested, don’t let nitpicking critiques stop you from wearing your ‘heart on your sleeve’… I find people who do this are much easier to trust and generally easier to get on with all round…
🙂
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H said:
Asty, I have loved Leonard since I heard his song in the film called ‘McCabe and Mrs Miller’ , that was a long time ago but I still love him 🙂
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Emmjay said:
H, I reckon McCabe and Mrs Miller is one of my all-time favourite movies. I saw it in the cinema.
It really sticks it to conventional westerns, doesn’t it ?
John Houston movie ? Can’t remember but I do remember the lovely Julie Christie and the appropriately suss Warren Beatty.
I have to say that I was never a big fan of Leonard Cohen when I was a whipper snapper – too depressing, music to slash your wrists by ~ But I’m less hostile now – Hallelujah !
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H said:
Yes Emm, the very lovely Julie Christie, sadly they don’t make them anymore like that…
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astyages said:
Helvi, in that case perhaps my next musical contribution may be in the form of one of Leonard’s songs… perhaps ‘The Story of Isaac’ might be appropriate, since it seems to be topical?
It may take me a week or so, though, Helvi… I’ll have to record it first; and I still have to post the next episode of Cyrus and Hell Hospital… they’re a little overdue because I’ve had to take a few days’ break to upgrade my computer (another 3 gig of RAM and a video card). Now I just have to upgrade my interenet server… anyone know one better and cheaper than Optus?
I think we piglets all have a tendency to wear our hearts on our sleeves, Helvi, don’t you? But isn’t that what writing is all about?
It was certainly true of Leonard Cohen, whose works, though often described as ‘depressing’ all had a lyrical beauty which has seldom been matched by modern songwriters. And although I described an album of his as ‘Songs to Slash Your Wrists By’ this is entirely in jest; indeed, I always found that Leonard Cohen’s songs cheered me up… it was cheering to know that there was someone out there who was more depressed than I was!
I have the vaguest of memories of the film you mention… let me guess, the song from that would probably have been ‘Bird on a Wire’… (which song has even been the title of a film starring Mel “Crucify me!” Gibsom and Goldie Hawn)… and is also in my repertoire.
😉
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Reuben Brand said:
Cheers astyages,
No, actually I had no idea you’d written a piece re Zionist propaganda – will definatley check it out.
I’m actaully a bit a of big fan of good ol Leonard, and Nick cave… and the Warren Ellis… and Tom Waits for that matter. Each one of them is an incredible story teller. I love getting lost in their music…
Especially “Frank’s wild years” – still cracks me up when I hear Waits ramble on in his whiskey soaked voice… “Never did like that dog…” 😉
H – good to see another Cohen fan… Have you heard his later(ish) album “10 new songs”? Wonderful. Also one of his books “selected Poetry” 1956–1968 – awesome.
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H said:
Asty, I saw your Leonard quote on UL, Gerard often puts Cohen lyrics into his stories. I never found him depressing, he makes me feel good, but then I see lightness in most unexpected corners 🙂
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H said:
Reuben, when one of our daughters got married, I chose the music. Of course I had to get some Cohen songs in. When the couple danced to the ‘Dance me to the end of love’, I noticed many teary faces…
The film about his life and concerts was very enjoyable, Nick Cave had the right voice for Leonard’s songs.
I borrowed one book about his poetry from the library, it might be the one you referring to.
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