War Bulletin 11-5-2003
WAR BULLETIN 11503
We are living in a strange era of American history. A glimpse at the news in print or on television tells us daily of the trouble our nation is in at this time. Ours is a multi-faceted trouble, gnawing at the very roots and foundation of our nation. We have an administration in Washington that has abrogated treaties and agreements that former leaders of both parties worked hard to achieve for our protection and to help preserve the peace and welfare of the entire world. The administration has ridiculed the United Nations organization as well as individual nations who have been our friends and allies for generations. Its actions have destroyed our vast treasure of good will built up by constructive, fair and friendly actions of former administrations.
We have a president who lied to us, who pushed us into a war with a small country which was no serious threat to our security or welfare without having formulated a plan of action following the war. He and his propagandists convinced the nation that we were in imminent danger of being attacked with weapons of mass destruction on hand and in production by the enemy. They lied to us. They used unsubstantiated intelligence information to support their push to war when they knew that information was false or “doctored” to make it appear true. They accomplished their purpose. The people were convinced that war was necessary.
Contrary to a long national history of not striking the first blow, the president declared the right of pre-emption. He declared to the world that he had the right to make war on any nation that he decided was a threat to the national security of our country or that of our friends and allies. It will take a long time to evaluate the worldwide effects of that decision, but we have already seen a few nations take actions to build up their defenses against an attack by the United States. In our own country we are sure to see a tarnishing of our self-image as a peace-loving nation.
As the President proclaimed from the deck of the Abraham Lincoln the major fighting has ended and the new task of cleaning up Iraq and converting it into a Democratic state is in progress. The Congress has given him authority to spend the money he requested to complete the job of rebuilding the nation’s superstructure and get organized a provisional government to manage the affairs until a fair election can be arranged.
During this period of rebuilding one would expect the local people to be happy to see us building and furnishing new schools, hospitals and government building. Surely it is reasonable to assume that they would be pleased to get their water plants, streets and bridges repaired. Shouldn’t it be a joyful occasion to see the power system repaired so they could have lights, and the telephone system made operable so they can talk with neighbors and out-of-town friends.
Of course the people would surely be happy to see these jobs done if the damage had been done by a catastrophe of nature, and the repair workmen were friendly neighbors or members of United Nations work teams. However, it is different situation when the damage was done by the United States in a pre-emptive war and the reconstruction is being done by that same group of people.
To understand the attitude of the local people we need to review the long-term history of these people. Their minds simply are not able to look on people from the United States as anything but another group of despicable characters whose aim is to enslave them and take their oil and other property from them.
They might not wish to have Saddam back in power but even less do they wish to have an army of pre-emptive invaders telling them what to do or how to do it. They understand democracy as a type of government used by the infidels who caused all this trouble. The trade offs of the Great War and the protectorate regime that followed is still bitter in the minds of the older ones from experience and the young ones from their textbooks.
The people of Iraq are divided into strong, stubborn clans with special deep hatreds toward one another which have made it difficult over the years for them to live peaceably together. It may well be that it was Saddam Hussein’s iron-fisted rule that made it possible to hold the factions together as a nation. Saddam reflected a particular hatred from each population group. Yet, there is a far deeper hatred for the despised Americans. The people’s history, culture and pride come together in their determination to do everything they can to destroy everything they possible can that is American.
The people who work with or for the United States are seen as co-conspirators and hatred toward them is only slightly less intense. This will continue to be a handicap to progress as long as we are there. In turn it will make it increasingly more difficult to get support from other countries and welfare agencies who would ordinarily be welcomed to the country.
From all sides I hear that we are in a mess. Mr. Bush is the exception, saying that we are on schedule. There is growing alarm about losses of our troops. This alarm is intensified by reports that additional units are being readied for shipment to Iraq. The Generals continue to disagree as to how many troops should have been sent in the beginning and how many are needed for the rehabilitation effort.
There are calls for bringing the troops home, but without help from other nations this is unacceptable. Other nations are justifiably reluctant to bail us out of the war in which we chose to ‘go it alone’ after insulting both them and the United Nations. We are left with a very short list of alternatives, all bitter and controversial. Jerry
We are living in a strange era of American history. A glimpse at the news in print or on television tells us daily of the trouble our nation is in at this time. Ours is a multi-faceted trouble, gnawing at the very roots and foundation of our nation. We have an administration in Washington that has abrogated treaties and agreements that former leaders of both parties worked hard to achieve for our protection and to help preserve the peace and welfare of the entire world. The administration has ridiculed the United Nations organization as well as individual nations who have been our friends and allies for generations. Its actions have destroyed our vast treasure of good will built up by constructive, fair and friendly actions of former administrations.
We have a president who lied to us, who pushed us into a war with a small country which was no serious threat to our security or welfare without having formulated a plan of action following the war. He and his propagandists convinced the nation that we were in imminent danger of being attacked with weapons of mass destruction on hand and in production by the enemy. They lied to us. They used unsubstantiated intelligence information to support their push to war when they knew that information was false or “doctored” to make it appear true. They accomplished their purpose. The people were convinced that war was necessary.
Contrary to a long national history of not striking the first blow, the president declared the right of pre-emption. He declared to the world that he had the right to make war on any nation that he decided was a threat to the national security of our country or that of our friends and allies. It will take a long time to evaluate the worldwide effects of that decision, but we have already seen a few nations take actions to build up their defenses against an attack by the United States. In our own country we are sure to see a tarnishing of our self-image as a peace-loving nation.
As the President proclaimed from the deck of the Abraham Lincoln the major fighting has ended and the new task of cleaning up Iraq and converting it into a Democratic state is in progress. The Congress has given him authority to spend the money he requested to complete the job of rebuilding the nation’s superstructure and get organized a provisional government to manage the affairs until a fair election can be arranged.
During this period of rebuilding one would expect the local people to be happy to see us building and furnishing new schools, hospitals and government building. Surely it is reasonable to assume that they would be pleased to get their water plants, streets and bridges repaired. Shouldn’t it be a joyful occasion to see the power system repaired so they could have lights, and the telephone system made operable so they can talk with neighbors and out-of-town friends.
Of course the people would surely be happy to see these jobs done if the damage had been done by a catastrophe of nature, and the repair workmen were friendly neighbors or members of United Nations work teams. However, it is different situation when the damage was done by the United States in a pre-emptive war and the reconstruction is being done by that same group of people.
To understand the attitude of the local people we need to review the long-term history of these people. Their minds simply are not able to look on people from the United States as anything but another group of despicable characters whose aim is to enslave them and take their oil and other property from them.
They might not wish to have Saddam back in power but even less do they wish to have an army of pre-emptive invaders telling them what to do or how to do it. They understand democracy as a type of government used by the infidels who caused all this trouble. The trade offs of the Great War and the protectorate regime that followed is still bitter in the minds of the older ones from experience and the young ones from their textbooks.
The people of Iraq are divided into strong, stubborn clans with special deep hatreds toward one another which have made it difficult over the years for them to live peaceably together. It may well be that it was Saddam Hussein’s iron-fisted rule that made it possible to hold the factions together as a nation. Saddam reflected a particular hatred from each population group. Yet, there is a far deeper hatred for the despised Americans. The people’s history, culture and pride come together in their determination to do everything they can to destroy everything they possible can that is American.
The people who work with or for the United States are seen as co-conspirators and hatred toward them is only slightly less intense. This will continue to be a handicap to progress as long as we are there. In turn it will make it increasingly more difficult to get support from other countries and welfare agencies who would ordinarily be welcomed to the country.
From all sides I hear that we are in a mess. Mr. Bush is the exception, saying that we are on schedule. There is growing alarm about losses of our troops. This alarm is intensified by reports that additional units are being readied for shipment to Iraq. The Generals continue to disagree as to how many troops should have been sent in the beginning and how many are needed for the rehabilitation effort.
There are calls for bringing the troops home, but without help from other nations this is unacceptable. Other nations are justifiably reluctant to bail us out of the war in which we chose to ‘go it alone’ after insulting both them and the United Nations. We are left with a very short list of alternatives, all bitter and controversial. Jerry
posted by Jeremiah | 9:59 PM
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