Sunday, May 30, 2004
Professional liar and tottering fool General Kimmit has announced that the Iraqi people will forgive the occupation forces' torture of prisoners, in an early bid for this week's arrogant idiocy prize. (no, since you ask, he didn't use the t-word, nor the phrase 'copper green'.)
"It's because the scale of this was so small that the people of Iraq will forgive us," he mouthshat.
Forgiveness is unlikely when the occupying forces continue to kill innocent Iraqis, and then act with monstrous self-satisfaction concerning the dead, who automatically become turrists - an example being Kimmit's continuing lies about the slaughtered wedding-party in the very same press conference.
"It's because the scale of this was so small that the people of Iraq will forgive us," he mouthshat.
Forgiveness is unlikely when the occupying forces continue to kill innocent Iraqis, and then act with monstrous self-satisfaction concerning the dead, who automatically become turrists - an example being Kimmit's continuing lies about the slaughtered wedding-party in the very same press conference.
Saturday, May 29, 2004
A BBC reporter for Radio 4's PM programme found an Iraqi with a cautiously positive opinion of the probable PM-to-be, Iyad Allawi. The Iraqi chap said he'd give him a chance, and noted that it is good that Allawi was well educated. That citizens respect education is a good sign for democracy, but less suitable for the puppetocracy that the US usually implements.
Allawi, a founder member of the Iraqi National Accord (a rival organization to Chalabi's INC), certainly knows how to play politics - he has been spending lavishly on Washington lobby firms, and has kept up a better relationship with the CIA than Chalabi did. MI6 might have a less friendly view of him, as the INA was the source of the '45-minute' claim which idiot Blair shouted from the rooftops, but British influence in Iraq is negligible.
How the majority of Iraqis will see the Allawi - a former senior Ba'ath Party official who has not lived in Iraq for thirty years - remains to be seen.
Allawi, a founder member of the Iraqi National Accord (a rival organization to Chalabi's INC), certainly knows how to play politics - he has been spending lavishly on Washington lobby firms, and has kept up a better relationship with the CIA than Chalabi did. MI6 might have a less friendly view of him, as the INA was the source of the '45-minute' claim which idiot Blair shouted from the rooftops, but British influence in Iraq is negligible.
How the majority of Iraqis will see the Allawi - a former senior Ba'ath Party official who has not lived in Iraq for thirty years - remains to be seen.
Signs of panic at the top levels of both the UK and US governments are now unmistakable. The recent public contradiction between Blair's and Powell's views on Iraqi control over the occupation forces shows that they are making policy on the hoof, and are mostly concerned with public opinion in their own countries. Blair doesn't want to be seen as an imperial occupier, Powell is playing to the traditional reluctance of the US to have any US soldiers or citizens under any sort of foreign command.
Similarly unable to coordinate their propaganda are the US Department of Justice and the Homeland Security Department, which is nominally coordinating all things anti-turrist. On the same day that Ashcroft announced that al-Qaida is ready to attack the US, Tom Ridge was on ABC playing down the threats as "not the most disturbing that I have personally seen during the past couple of years."
Confusion continues to reign in occupation politics, with the UN special envoy who is supposed to be responsible for manufacturing a new government reportedly 'not even in the room' when the Iraqi PM-to-be was announced by the Iraqi Governing Council. A UN spokesman, sounding a bit crestfallen, said "It's not how we expected it to happen."
Even some of the neo-cons can see that the invasion of Iraq has not gone to plan. 'Prince of Darkness' Richard Perle has described the occupation as a 'grave error,' although his claim that Iraq should have been handed over to Iraqis sooner seems mendacious in the light of Jay Garner's revelation: early elections were blocked so that Iraqi industry could be 'privatized' (aka 'stolen').
As the slime at the top engages in random spin and self-exculpation, one calls to mind Alexis de Tocqueville's comment, as true today as it was 160 years ago:
'On my arrival in the United States I was surprised to find so much distinguished talent among the citizens and so little among the heads of government. It is a constant fact that at the present day the ablest men in the United States are rarely placed at the head of affairs.'
Similarly unable to coordinate their propaganda are the US Department of Justice and the Homeland Security Department, which is nominally coordinating all things anti-turrist. On the same day that Ashcroft announced that al-Qaida is ready to attack the US, Tom Ridge was on ABC playing down the threats as "not the most disturbing that I have personally seen during the past couple of years."
Confusion continues to reign in occupation politics, with the UN special envoy who is supposed to be responsible for manufacturing a new government reportedly 'not even in the room' when the Iraqi PM-to-be was announced by the Iraqi Governing Council. A UN spokesman, sounding a bit crestfallen, said "It's not how we expected it to happen."
Even some of the neo-cons can see that the invasion of Iraq has not gone to plan. 'Prince of Darkness' Richard Perle has described the occupation as a 'grave error,' although his claim that Iraq should have been handed over to Iraqis sooner seems mendacious in the light of Jay Garner's revelation: early elections were blocked so that Iraqi industry could be 'privatized' (aka 'stolen').
As the slime at the top engages in random spin and self-exculpation, one calls to mind Alexis de Tocqueville's comment, as true today as it was 160 years ago:
'On my arrival in the United States I was surprised to find so much distinguished talent among the citizens and so little among the heads of government. It is a constant fact that at the present day the ablest men in the United States are rarely placed at the head of affairs.'
Thursday, May 27, 2004
Abu-Hamza, the loopy Imam with the pantomime appearance, has been before British magistrates today, to be hauled off to the anti-turrism gulag run by the Americans.
The dangerous US Attorney-General, John Ashcroft, described the allegations against him in some detail, and noted that the most serious - conspiracy to take hostages - carries the death penalty. Despite noting that under law, someone is innocent until proven guilty, Ashcroft referred to terrorists as 'Hamza's co-conspirators' repeatedly. Whether Hamza gets a fair trial or no, it is a much-needed positive photo op for the War On Turrism.
The extradition would be a marked change of UK government practice - usually the UK does not extradite people who face death in a foreign court (although it does deport refugees back to war zones.)
One also wonders what evidence was shown by the Americans to the British establishment. Two US-brought cases in Germany have fallen foul of the letter of the law, because the American authorities were unwilling to give the German court important evidence. The supine British establishment is so subservient to Bush's maladministration that they may not have thought to ask about evidence. After all, Abu-Hamza has one eye and a hook hand - he certainly looks like a turrist, and Blair's co-religionist John Ashcroft could do with some good publicity.
The dangerous US Attorney-General, John Ashcroft, described the allegations against him in some detail, and noted that the most serious - conspiracy to take hostages - carries the death penalty. Despite noting that under law, someone is innocent until proven guilty, Ashcroft referred to terrorists as 'Hamza's co-conspirators' repeatedly. Whether Hamza gets a fair trial or no, it is a much-needed positive photo op for the War On Turrism.
The extradition would be a marked change of UK government practice - usually the UK does not extradite people who face death in a foreign court (although it does deport refugees back to war zones.)
One also wonders what evidence was shown by the Americans to the British establishment. Two US-brought cases in Germany have fallen foul of the letter of the law, because the American authorities were unwilling to give the German court important evidence. The supine British establishment is so subservient to Bush's maladministration that they may not have thought to ask about evidence. After all, Abu-Hamza has one eye and a hook hand - he certainly looks like a turrist, and Blair's co-religionist John Ashcroft could do with some good publicity.
A detail that didn't make the BBC website story about a warehouse fire which destroyed various modern artworks:
Tracy Emin was asked if she was upset at the destruction of some of her artworks.
"Yes," she replied, "but not as upset as I am over the people being killed in Iraq."
Tracy Emin was asked if she was upset at the destruction of some of her artworks.
"Yes," she replied, "but not as upset as I am over the people being killed in Iraq."
Tuesday, May 25, 2004
The recent suggestions that Ahmed Chalabi, 'Hero in Error,' has been manipulating the US into furthering Iran's regional interests is bad news for the most hawkish of the junta, who have tied their success to his analysis of Iraq. They have been losing ground to (what one hesitates to call) the moderates anyway, hence Colin Powell's open criticism of the hawks, and his admission that intelligence 'sourcing' was 'deliberately misleading'. However, Powell is an oddity, not a Republican bloc - the two main factions of the Republicans are the neo-con corporate fascists, and the fundamentalist Christian right. Although many rank-and-file Republican voters are neither, the secular and fiscally prudent Republicans are weak in the upper echelons.
There are signs that the cabal of neo-cons, including Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Feith and Perle are losing influence, as everyone but themselves can now see how delusional and inept their policy has been. Although Rumsfeld seems to have weathered the initial torture outrage, General Sanchez has just been removed from Iraq (for reasons unrelated to torture, of course), and pressure will continue to mount. Feith and Wolfowitz are deeply unpopular with the military, Feith being 'the fucking stupidest guy on the face of the Earth' according to General Tommy Franks. Perle had stepped down from the Defense Policy Board in March, because the tax-dollar-nozzle was too obviously sticking into his pocket. He was on BBC Radio 4 this lunchtime, denouncing the Iran-Chalabi story and suggesting that it was being put about by the CIA, who had never liked Chalabi. He sounded a little paranoid.
Meanwhile, the Christian right are not pleased with the Bush gang either. Stem cell research, the removal of the ten commandments from that courthouse, and the removal of the 'under God' part of the pledge of allegiance in some states all show that Satan is at work in Bush's USA, and no-one has been burnt at the stake! The maladministration's response - a move to make gay marriage unconstitutional - may not be enough to cheer up the Christian right, particularly because Bush's little chum Sharon says he is giving back the Gaza Strip to Palestinians, thus delaying the second coming...
There are signs that the cabal of neo-cons, including Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Feith and Perle are losing influence, as everyone but themselves can now see how delusional and inept their policy has been. Although Rumsfeld seems to have weathered the initial torture outrage, General Sanchez has just been removed from Iraq (for reasons unrelated to torture, of course), and pressure will continue to mount. Feith and Wolfowitz are deeply unpopular with the military, Feith being 'the fucking stupidest guy on the face of the Earth' according to General Tommy Franks. Perle had stepped down from the Defense Policy Board in March, because the tax-dollar-nozzle was too obviously sticking into his pocket. He was on BBC Radio 4 this lunchtime, denouncing the Iran-Chalabi story and suggesting that it was being put about by the CIA, who had never liked Chalabi. He sounded a little paranoid.
Meanwhile, the Christian right are not pleased with the Bush gang either. Stem cell research, the removal of the ten commandments from that courthouse, and the removal of the 'under God' part of the pledge of allegiance in some states all show that Satan is at work in Bush's USA, and no-one has been burnt at the stake! The maladministration's response - a move to make gay marriage unconstitutional - may not be enough to cheer up the Christian right, particularly because Bush's little chum Sharon says he is giving back the Gaza Strip to Palestinians, thus delaying the second coming...
Blair made a statement at the monthly news conference, saying that the Iraqi government will choose 'whether the troops stay or not,' and will have 'final political control' over actions by coalition forces. This is not backed up by the documents issued by the US. The draft UN resolution makes no mention of an Iraqi right to order the troops out, a point specifically desired even by the puppet Iraqi Governing Council. The resolution allows 'US-led forces to take "all necessary measures" to keep the peace and fight terrorism.' (Reuters.) That sounds like a blank cheque.
The BBC gives some detail about the 'transfer of power':
What happens on 30 June?
Power will transfer from the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) to an interim Iraqi government. The CPA will cease to exist and its head Paul Bremer will return to the United States. Formally the occupation will end.
Who will be in the interim government?
This has not yet been decided. It will be a government appointed by the CPA with the agreement of the UN and Iraqi political leaders. A United Nations envoy Lakhdar Brahimi is currently holding discussions in Iraq and he hopes to have the names well before the handover date.
What powers will the interim government have?
Very limited. It will not be able to make or change any basic law. The US and UK have however recognised that they could hardly call the government "sovereign" if it does not have the ultimate right to ask foreign troops to leave. The government will formally control oil revenues but the budget for this year has been set so its actual influence will be limited. A big US embassy will largely control the flow of US aid.
What control will the government have over security?
It will have a theoretical right to ask foreign troops to leave but will not exercise it since those likely to be in the government have supported the presence of US and other troops.
Bush yesterday gave a weak speech, and where his allies hoped for something new indicating an understanding of the seriousness of the disaster in Iraq, he merely regurgitated the same line as before; the 'exit strategy' being:
Hand over authority to a sovereign Iraqi government;
Help establish the stability and security in Iraq that democracy requires;
Continue rebuilding Iraq's infrastructure;
Encourage more international support;
Move toward free, national elections that will bring forward new leaders empowered by the Iraqi people.
No-one would expect Bush to be told the details of what his administration is doing, but this simple repetition, stay-the-course, must-establish-stability tone indicates that the US is not learning from its mistakes. Response to the speech has been even more unenthusiastic than to the UN resolution.
The BBC gives some detail about the 'transfer of power':
What happens on 30 June?
Power will transfer from the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) to an interim Iraqi government. The CPA will cease to exist and its head Paul Bremer will return to the United States. Formally the occupation will end.
Who will be in the interim government?
This has not yet been decided. It will be a government appointed by the CPA with the agreement of the UN and Iraqi political leaders. A United Nations envoy Lakhdar Brahimi is currently holding discussions in Iraq and he hopes to have the names well before the handover date.
What powers will the interim government have?
Very limited. It will not be able to make or change any basic law. The US and UK have however recognised that they could hardly call the government "sovereign" if it does not have the ultimate right to ask foreign troops to leave. The government will formally control oil revenues but the budget for this year has been set so its actual influence will be limited. A big US embassy will largely control the flow of US aid.
What control will the government have over security?
It will have a theoretical right to ask foreign troops to leave but will not exercise it since those likely to be in the government have supported the presence of US and other troops.
Bush yesterday gave a weak speech, and where his allies hoped for something new indicating an understanding of the seriousness of the disaster in Iraq, he merely regurgitated the same line as before; the 'exit strategy' being:
No-one would expect Bush to be told the details of what his administration is doing, but this simple repetition, stay-the-course, must-establish-stability tone indicates that the US is not learning from its mistakes. Response to the speech has been even more unenthusiastic than to the UN resolution.
Monday, May 24, 2004
Only three days after patronizingly announcing that 'Iraqis are ready to ''take the training wheels off'' and assume political power,' President Dumbfuck has fallen off his bicycle while riding around his ranch, hurting his face. Absolutely priceless.
BBC R4's Today programme interviewed Jimmy Massey, a former US Marine, who left the military after participating in the brutal occupation of Iraq and is now speaking out. He said vehicles were fired on 'time after time' at checkpoints, because troops had been told that Republican Guards had changed out of uniform, and that ambulances were being 'packed with explosives.' Pulling the trigger had 'no consequences.'
Asked if he was surprised by the Abu Ghraib 'abuses,' he said that type of abuse was 'routine in the US military. Period.'
This is only going to come as a surprise to liberal hawks, who bought the idea of humanitarian military intervention. Because the troops of the capitalist west represented 'civilization' in the form of liberal democracy, the invasion wouldn't lead to oppressive occupation. Oh no.
Asked if he was surprised by the Abu Ghraib 'abuses,' he said that type of abuse was 'routine in the US military. Period.'
This is only going to come as a surprise to liberal hawks, who bought the idea of humanitarian military intervention. Because the troops of the capitalist west represented 'civilization' in the form of liberal democracy, the invasion wouldn't lead to oppressive occupation. Oh no.
Saturday, May 22, 2004
Thursday, May 20, 2004
The ludicrous case brought by demented US Attorney-General Ashcroft against Greenpeace has been dismissed by a judge in Miami.
In April 2002, Greenpeace activists boarded a ship carrying illegally felled mahogany from Brazil to Florida. The minor charges against the peaceful protesters were quickly settled, but then the maladministration decided to prosecute Greenpeace itself. As the account on their website puts it:
'Unable to find a law against protecting the environment, the US government had to improvise. The best they could come up with was an obscure 1872 law against 'sailor mongering.' The bizarre statute was originally designed to discourage owners of inns and brothels from boarding ships as they were about to enter port, in order to lure the sailors into their establishments. It has only been used twice in its 132-year history.'
Fortunately, the judge accepted a Greenpeace motion to dismiss the case, ruling that federal prosecutors had not made their case. Even so, bearing in mind Ascroft's taste for obsolete statutes, his hatred of free speech, and his shiny-eyed Christian fanaticism, activists all over the US, but particularly those in Salem, should be worried.
In April 2002, Greenpeace activists boarded a ship carrying illegally felled mahogany from Brazil to Florida. The minor charges against the peaceful protesters were quickly settled, but then the maladministration decided to prosecute Greenpeace itself. As the account on their website puts it:
'Unable to find a law against protecting the environment, the US government had to improvise. The best they could come up with was an obscure 1872 law against 'sailor mongering.' The bizarre statute was originally designed to discourage owners of inns and brothels from boarding ships as they were about to enter port, in order to lure the sailors into their establishments. It has only been used twice in its 132-year history.'
Fortunately, the judge accepted a Greenpeace motion to dismiss the case, ruling that federal prosecutors had not made their case. Even so, bearing in mind Ascroft's taste for obsolete statutes, his hatred of free speech, and his shiny-eyed Christian fanaticism, activists all over the US, but particularly those in Salem, should be worried.
Wednesday, May 19, 2004
The Israeli Defence Force, or 'army,' has recently been underlining the obvious point that the Palestinians have no 'partner for peace' in the troubled region.
'Operation Rainbow,' an armoured assault on the Rafah refugee camp, had already led to 24 Palestinian deaths, when a demonstration against the operation took place today. The protesting locals, irritated at the loss of life and their dwindling stock of houses, was fired upon by the IDF with troops, tanks and helicopters, according to this BBC report. At least eight people were killed, including two children, and the local hospital was overwhelmed with the injured, numbering at least 50.
Amnesty International has noted that the destruction of houses 'violates fundamental principles of international human rights and humanitarian law,' and is now being carried out at 'an unprecedented level.' The same could be said of an army engaging a civilian crowd with helicopters.
Ha'aretz has commented that 'neither the armed men nor the weapons smuggled through the tunnels are a strategic threat to Israel.' Those tunnels are the official pretext for the attack.
President Dumbfuck is apparently 'troubled.'
'Operation Rainbow,' an armoured assault on the Rafah refugee camp, had already led to 24 Palestinian deaths, when a demonstration against the operation took place today. The protesting locals, irritated at the loss of life and their dwindling stock of houses, was fired upon by the IDF with troops, tanks and helicopters, according to this BBC report. At least eight people were killed, including two children, and the local hospital was overwhelmed with the injured, numbering at least 50.
Amnesty International has noted that the destruction of houses 'violates fundamental principles of international human rights and humanitarian law,' and is now being carried out at 'an unprecedented level.' The same could be said of an army engaging a civilian crowd with helicopters.
Ha'aretz has commented that 'neither the armed men nor the weapons smuggled through the tunnels are a strategic threat to Israel.' Those tunnels are the official pretext for the attack.
President Dumbfuck is apparently 'troubled.'
The Prime Ministerial peppering with purple powder probably produces a paucity of positive progress. The issue which the perpetrators, protest group 'Fathers for Justice,' were seeking to highlight will certainly get lost in all the coverage of the security issues raised. Security around politicians and the Houses of Parliament will be stepped up, making it harder to throw things at the Prime Minister in future. Worst of all, the democratic accountability of the PM relies on the spectacle of grown human beings shouting lies at each other as their overfed sycophants make grunting noises in the background, and today's democratic shouting and grunting session was shamefully curtailed.
So, protesters, please do not throw harmless things at the Prime Minister.
So, protesters, please do not throw harmless things at the Prime Minister.
The decision by India's presumed new Prime Minister, Sonia Ghandi, to decline the post is peculiar. After the sexist and racist campaigning of the mindlessly nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party was rejected by the electorate, the only explanation offered so far - that she stood down 'to end debate over her foreign birth' - does not cover the situation. If that was the motive, the reasonable time to step down would have been (long) before the election. Ghandi's 'inner voice' which she cited as prompting the decision is not an explanation.
The Indian stock market suffered its largest ever loss and trading was suspended on news of the pro-corporate, pro-globalization BJP's defeat, no doubt due to the Congress / left coalition promises to stop selling off state-owned companies, and make the booming private companies shoulder a larger proportion of the tax burden.
While the Indian people who voted for the Congress Party may feel that they've been the victims of a 'bait-and-switch,' the stock market has cheered up at the news that the most likely candidate is Manmohan Singh, 'safe pair of hands,' who was Governor of Reserve Bank of India ('82-'85.) In the 90s, as Finance Minister in Rao's government, he implemented free-market changes - a rationalisation of the tax system and the repealing of a significant amount of regulations on industry and commerce.
Breaking news:
The Congress PM will be Manmohan Singh. The Indian stock market continues to recover.
The Indian stock market suffered its largest ever loss and trading was suspended on news of the pro-corporate, pro-globalization BJP's defeat, no doubt due to the Congress / left coalition promises to stop selling off state-owned companies, and make the booming private companies shoulder a larger proportion of the tax burden.
While the Indian people who voted for the Congress Party may feel that they've been the victims of a 'bait-and-switch,' the stock market has cheered up at the news that the most likely candidate is Manmohan Singh, 'safe pair of hands,' who was Governor of Reserve Bank of India ('82-'85.) In the 90s, as Finance Minister in Rao's government, he implemented free-market changes - a rationalisation of the tax system and the repealing of a significant amount of regulations on industry and commerce.
Breaking news:
The Congress PM will be Manmohan Singh. The Indian stock market continues to recover.
Tuesday, May 18, 2004
Revolting Jack Straw, British Foreign Secretary and war criminal, seemed to be having difficulty choking out the lies this morning on BBC R4's Today programme. His delivery, normally nervous and staccato, was more than usually stumbling as he tried to fend off Humphrys' tepid questioning.
He conceded that the 'Coalition' was facing difficulties 'greater than it would have been reasonable to foresee nine months ago,' but the truth of this is dependent on accepting a very New Labour definition of 'reasonable.' Everyone capable of rudimentary thought has known for certain, ever since the statue of Saddam was decorated with the stars and stripes, that the famous American cultural sensitivity would produce a giant SNAFU for the occupiers in short order.
When asked if Labour realised that Blair had lost the trust of the bulk of the population over Iraq, and is now a liability for the party, he noted that governments normally faced mid-term difficulties, and went on to praise the economy and the unemployment statistics.
This is a total disconnection from reality, but it goes no further than the tiny clique at the top. Labour is going to get beaten like a red-headed stepchild in the forthcoming elections, and no amount of hot air about 'difficult decisions' will take attention away from the horror that most people feel about Blair's servile participation in Bush's imperial adventure.
He conceded that the 'Coalition' was facing difficulties 'greater than it would have been reasonable to foresee nine months ago,' but the truth of this is dependent on accepting a very New Labour definition of 'reasonable.' Everyone capable of rudimentary thought has known for certain, ever since the statue of Saddam was decorated with the stars and stripes, that the famous American cultural sensitivity would produce a giant SNAFU for the occupiers in short order.
When asked if Labour realised that Blair had lost the trust of the bulk of the population over Iraq, and is now a liability for the party, he noted that governments normally faced mid-term difficulties, and went on to praise the economy and the unemployment statistics.
This is a total disconnection from reality, but it goes no further than the tiny clique at the top. Labour is going to get beaten like a red-headed stepchild in the forthcoming elections, and no amount of hot air about 'difficult decisions' will take attention away from the horror that most people feel about Blair's servile participation in Bush's imperial adventure.
Monday, May 17, 2004
As befits the Land of the Free™, the USA has more prisoners than any other country. According to the UK Home Office's Research, Development and Statistics Directorate's latest findings, the US has both the highest total of caged people, now over 2 million, and the highest per capita rate of incarceration, of 701 prisoners per 100,000 population. By contrast, 60% of countries manage an incarceration rate of 150/100,000 or lower. The figure is only a count of domestic prisoners - those in Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo, and other parts of the anti-terror gulag do not count.
The US domestic prison population does not reflect the ethnic proportions of the whole society. As is well known, the prison population is disproportionately black, with a nationwide per capita incarceration rate over eight times higher for African-Americans than white ones.
However, the US prisons do good for some. The largest players in the 'corrections' industry, such as Wackenhut and Corrections Corporation of America, are enormous companies.
In terms of the death penalty, the US is third, after Iran and China, and only the US and China executed children last year.
The US domestic prison population does not reflect the ethnic proportions of the whole society. As is well known, the prison population is disproportionately black, with a nationwide per capita incarceration rate over eight times higher for African-Americans than white ones.
However, the US prisons do good for some. The largest players in the 'corrections' industry, such as Wackenhut and Corrections Corporation of America, are enormous companies.
In terms of the death penalty, the US is third, after Iran and China, and only the US and China executed children last year.
Seymour Hersh has revealed a Pentagon office set up by mechanical sadist Rumsfeld to conduct clandestine war-on-terror-y things, including interrogation at Abu Ghraib. This may be the reason Rumsfeld didn't resign when the torture photos appeared - by waiting for the full development of the scandal, the administration benefits by appearing with as clean a slate as possible after Rumsfeld's departure.
However, political calculation of this kind is irrelevant to the situation in Iraq - half-hearted apologies, promises and a shuffle of defense secretaries will not change the perception of the US as an imperialist aggressor. Even Chalabi, the neo-con hawks' favorite, has been critical of US tactics so far. Many Iraqis believe the US has no intention of pulling out - and since any US puppet democracy will need military support, they're right.
Bush and Blair's reported hope for greater use of the Iraqi security forces will remain optimistic talk while any Iraqis working with the Coalition are seen as collaborators, as hostility to the Governing Council is not limited to the occasional bomber or mortaring of Iraqi police and army. The US would rather not rely on an Iraqi force, but its own forces are spread very thin at the moment. While in Afghanistan, a less integrated and modernised society, installing a puppet regime in Kabul wasn't so hard - US special forces protect him, and in the country-side the same old power factions govern their respective bits, as before. This model won't work in Iraq, which is a more secular, educated and urban society. The US aim of setting up a compliant democracy, which while appearing fair, governs in a manner pleasing to US foreign policy does not seem possible from here.
However, political calculation of this kind is irrelevant to the situation in Iraq - half-hearted apologies, promises and a shuffle of defense secretaries will not change the perception of the US as an imperialist aggressor. Even Chalabi, the neo-con hawks' favorite, has been critical of US tactics so far. Many Iraqis believe the US has no intention of pulling out - and since any US puppet democracy will need military support, they're right.
Bush and Blair's reported hope for greater use of the Iraqi security forces will remain optimistic talk while any Iraqis working with the Coalition are seen as collaborators, as hostility to the Governing Council is not limited to the occasional bomber or mortaring of Iraqi police and army. The US would rather not rely on an Iraqi force, but its own forces are spread very thin at the moment. While in Afghanistan, a less integrated and modernised society, installing a puppet regime in Kabul wasn't so hard - US special forces protect him, and in the country-side the same old power factions govern their respective bits, as before. This model won't work in Iraq, which is a more secular, educated and urban society. The US aim of setting up a compliant democracy, which while appearing fair, governs in a manner pleasing to US foreign policy does not seem possible from here.
Sunday, May 16, 2004
The recent kerfuffle in the British press over Piers Morgan resigning from the Mirror, and the suggestions from idiot Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, have served to push the worsening situation in Iraq down the news bulletins' playlists. There has been fighting in Karbala today, and over the weekend in Najaf, resulting in some bullet-damage to the Imam Ali Mosque. The Italians in the Coalition offices in Nasiriyah came under seige, and are now reported to have been evacuated. According to Juan Cole fighting has also broken out in Samawah, the Sadr City area of Baghdad, and near Amara, where British troops were mortared.
The faint, plaintive cries of 'exit strategy?' in the press, and from senior politicians, can only get louder as the extent of the neo-cons' miscalculation becomes more painfully apparent. The current plan to hand over sovereignty in these conditions will be a purely ritual act, and doesn't meet the criterion of an exit strategy - it doesn't provide an exit.
The faint, plaintive cries of 'exit strategy?' in the press, and from senior politicians, can only get louder as the extent of the neo-cons' miscalculation becomes more painfully apparent. The current plan to hand over sovereignty in these conditions will be a purely ritual act, and doesn't meet the criterion of an exit strategy - it doesn't provide an exit.
Thursday, May 13, 2004
'Jihad' is a word one sees a lot at the moment, but the translation that is often given in English - 'holy war' - is misleading, and its widespread use is a deliberate attempt to whip up islamophobia.
The word is derived from the Arabic 'jahada,' the verb 'to struggle,' and any thought, speech or action by a Muslim with the aim of becoming a better Muslim is 'jihad.' If a Muslim struggles with temptation, for example the temptation to eat during the daylight fasting during Ramadan, that struggle can be called 'jihad.' The highest form of jihad is this personal struggle to overcome sin - Jihadun-Nafs. (Article.)
Fighting against oppression does also count as jihad, but the common misapprehension that Muslims are instructed by the Koran to wage holy war against non-Muslims is due to deliberate lying by people with a sinister political agenda - an external threat is handy to justify repressive, greed-based policies at home and abroad. If the external threat can be portrayed as implacable fanatics, so much the scarier, so much the better.
Ordinary people, of all nations, races, and creeds, simply wish to live in peace. Sadly, this does not fit in with the plans of the nutters at the top.
The word is derived from the Arabic 'jahada,' the verb 'to struggle,' and any thought, speech or action by a Muslim with the aim of becoming a better Muslim is 'jihad.' If a Muslim struggles with temptation, for example the temptation to eat during the daylight fasting during Ramadan, that struggle can be called 'jihad.' The highest form of jihad is this personal struggle to overcome sin - Jihadun-Nafs. (Article.)
Fighting against oppression does also count as jihad, but the common misapprehension that Muslims are instructed by the Koran to wage holy war against non-Muslims is due to deliberate lying by people with a sinister political agenda - an external threat is handy to justify repressive, greed-based policies at home and abroad. If the external threat can be portrayed as implacable fanatics, so much the scarier, so much the better.
Ordinary people, of all nations, races, and creeds, simply wish to live in peace. Sadly, this does not fit in with the plans of the nutters at the top.
Wednesday, May 12, 2004
The video clip of the murder of Nick Berg in Iraq is extremely disturbing. It is a very rare thing to see and hear a human being forced across the boundary between life and death. Despite the fact that violent death is a staple of news and current affairs reporting - 'if it bleeds, it leads' - the process of dying is almost never shown. When bodies are shown, they are often photographed from a distance, and particularly badly mangled ones don't pass the audition. Also invisible are those disfigured - known as 'the broken faces' in France after WWI. This squeamishness is particularly noticeable in US and European media, and the more graphic coverage on some Arabic stations such as al-Jazeera has been (implicitly or explicitly) portrayed as propaganda. What al-Jazeera has been doing, however, is showing images which the US doesn't want shown - the results of their bloody occupation. The US administration goes to great lengths to prevent unsavoury pictures appearing, for example the attempted censorship of any images of coffins at Dover AFB, which required a court case to overturn. The reason offered by the US military - that publishing the pictures would violate the privacy of the dead and their families - does not even make sense. The coffins were completely anonymous, and privacy cannot be violated unless individuals are identifiable.
The mainstream media generally co-operates - remember that CBS sat on its documentary showing the Abu Ghraib photos at the request of the US government.
The most squeamish media, by strange coincidence, are those of the countries with the worst records of imperial military intervention - the US and the UK. The truth about their foreign policies is 'far too gruesome to be broadcast,' to coin a phrase.
The mainstream media generally co-operates - remember that CBS sat on its documentary showing the Abu Ghraib photos at the request of the US government.
The most squeamish media, by strange coincidence, are those of the countries with the worst records of imperial military intervention - the US and the UK. The truth about their foreign policies is 'far too gruesome to be broadcast,' to coin a phrase.
From the WTF department: The Pentagon had Zarqawi in the crosshairs three times before the attack on Iraq, but the National Security Council nixed the plans to zap him with cruise missiles each time, allegedly because it would make it harder to get a coalition together to attack Saddam - you know the Hondurans and the Bulgarians are pretty touchy about that kind of thing.
Or perhaps there is a reasonable explanation. Maybe Condi has share options on al-Qaida's forthcoming IPO?
Or perhaps there is a reasonable explanation. Maybe Condi has share options on al-Qaida's forthcoming IPO?
Tuesday, May 11, 2004
Bizarre one, this. The fascist British National Party, headed by known Holocaust denier Nick Griffin, has found a Jewish candidate to stand in next month's elections. The BNP's obsessive anti-Semitism is well known to watchers of the tiny, evil sect (see here and pdf here), but the leadership is playing it down as much as possible due to the revulsion anti-Semitism rightly inspires.
Possibly the candidate will see the error of her ways, as did another naif earlier this year. If the BNP's secret heart were to achieve its horrible dreams, she would be disillusioned quite forcefully.
Possibly the candidate will see the error of her ways, as did another naif earlier this year. If the BNP's secret heart were to achieve its horrible dreams, she would be disillusioned quite forcefully.
Monday, May 10, 2004
On the BBC Radio 4 news at 6.00 BST today, British Defence Minister and hole-in-the-air Geoff Hoon declared that he only became aware of the Red Cross report detailing abuses in Iraq a few days ago, despite the fact that the Red Cross gave it to the government in February. He also lied that the Red Cross was generally satisfied with British handling of detainees, although the BBC website reports:
The ICRC examined the arrest of nine men, one of whom died, by coalition forces in Basra on 13 September 2003.
'Following their arrest, the nine men were made to kneel, face and hands against the ground, as if in a prayer position. The soldiers stamped on the back of the neck of those raising their head. ...' The report says the men were later 'severely beaten' by coalition troops. 'One of the arrestees died following the ill-treatment... Prior to his death, his co-arrestees heard him screaming and asking for assistance.' The report says the death certificate for the 28-year-old married father-of-two mentioned 'cardio-respiratory arrest - asphyxia' as the condition leading to his death but said its cause was 'unknown' and should be referred to the coroner. Eyewitnesses told the ICRC the man had a broken nose, several broken ribs and cuts to the face 'consistent with beatings'. ... It says two of the other men arrested were put in hospital with 'severe injuries'.
Disgusting mass-murderer Blair, at a press conference with the visiting Chinese Prime Minister, said that he still hadn't seen the document.
Meanwhile, in the USA, President Dumbfuck and Vice President Ming both said that blood-dripping Rumsfeld was doing a good job.
Hey, Earthlings, do your leaders think that you're all as thick as pigshit, or what?
The ICRC examined the arrest of nine men, one of whom died, by coalition forces in Basra on 13 September 2003.
'Following their arrest, the nine men were made to kneel, face and hands against the ground, as if in a prayer position. The soldiers stamped on the back of the neck of those raising their head. ...' The report says the men were later 'severely beaten' by coalition troops. 'One of the arrestees died following the ill-treatment... Prior to his death, his co-arrestees heard him screaming and asking for assistance.' The report says the death certificate for the 28-year-old married father-of-two mentioned 'cardio-respiratory arrest - asphyxia' as the condition leading to his death but said its cause was 'unknown' and should be referred to the coroner. Eyewitnesses told the ICRC the man had a broken nose, several broken ribs and cuts to the face 'consistent with beatings'. ... It says two of the other men arrested were put in hospital with 'severe injuries'.
Disgusting mass-murderer Blair, at a press conference with the visiting Chinese Prime Minister, said that he still hadn't seen the document.
Meanwhile, in the USA, President Dumbfuck and Vice President Ming both said that blood-dripping Rumsfeld was doing a good job.
Hey, Earthlings, do your leaders think that you're all as thick as pigshit, or what?
A tiny error crept into a Radio Free Neptune report a couple of days ago. We reported that:
'Heavy, physical torture is practiced in various states, such as Syria and Egypt, and although the US is happy to criticize these states...'
The US now appears less than happy to criticize these states: according to the New York Times' editorial last Friday, 'The United States has been humiliated to a point where government officials could not release this year's international human rights report this week for fear of being scoffed at by the rest of the world.'
The newfound sensitivity of the US is noted. But surely giving in to scoffers is tantamount to giving in to 'turrists' (whatever they are)? 'Publish and be damned' is the Neptunian way.
'Heavy, physical torture is practiced in various states, such as Syria and Egypt, and although the US is happy to criticize these states...'
The US now appears less than happy to criticize these states: according to the New York Times' editorial last Friday, 'The United States has been humiliated to a point where government officials could not release this year's international human rights report this week for fear of being scoffed at by the rest of the world.'
The newfound sensitivity of the US is noted. But surely giving in to scoffers is tantamount to giving in to 'turrists' (whatever they are)? 'Publish and be damned' is the Neptunian way.
Sunday, May 09, 2004
'Joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.' [Luke, 15:7]
Some of the scales appear to have fallen from the eyes of ex-right-wing US crap-monger David Brock, who has set up a website exposing the kind of right-wing media distortions and lies he used to peddle. Let us hope that he fights the vaguely liberal fight as staunchly as risible fellow-convert Arianna Huffington.
In a similar vein, ur-shock-jock Howard Stern has promised to deliver his flock of dittoheads to the Kerry camp, after the far right FCC made moves to crack down on the kind of salacious rubbish that is poor Howard's livelihood.
The current US junta, 'with foreheads villainous low,' is even frightening off its erstwhile buddies. What can it mean?
Some of the scales appear to have fallen from the eyes of ex-right-wing US crap-monger David Brock, who has set up a website exposing the kind of right-wing media distortions and lies he used to peddle. Let us hope that he fights the vaguely liberal fight as staunchly as risible fellow-convert Arianna Huffington.
In a similar vein, ur-shock-jock Howard Stern has promised to deliver his flock of dittoheads to the Kerry camp, after the far right FCC made moves to crack down on the kind of salacious rubbish that is poor Howard's livelihood.
The current US junta, 'with foreheads villainous low,' is even frightening off its erstwhile buddies. What can it mean?
Recent climate research involving satellite temperature measurements of different layers of Earth's atmosphere add weight to the already strong evidence of Earthling-induced planetary warming. The majority of boffins already accept that the 25 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide released by human activity every year probably contributes to the observed temperature rise.
The gist of the new research, by University of Washington atmospheric scientist Qiang Fu, is that the troposphere (the lowest layer of the Earth's atmosphere, the 7.5 km nearest the ground,) is in fact warming up, at a rate of about 0.2 degrees Celsius per decade. Previously, although surface temperatures had been observed to increase, warming in the troposphere had not been conclusively observed, and global warming skeptics seized on this to pooh-pooh the idea of human-caused climate change. That position is now harder to maintain, although mendacious Ann-Coulter-wannabe Melanie Phillips has tried to rubbish the work of Qiang Fu and his team. She had dug up the well-known Dr. Roy Spencer, a chum of Prof. John 'plant food' Christy, and peppered her opinion piece with snippets of his work, although there is not enough context for non-specialists to understand the detail of their piece. As quoted, it simply functions to impress the kind of people who take Phillips seriously with unintelligible jargon. She links to the Spencer's piece at Tech Central Station ('Where Free Markets Meet Technology',) and ends by repeating an unwarranted snipe at Nature, the peer-reviewed journal where Qiang Fu's work appeared.
Let's ignore the smokescreen, and state the position simply. Human activity is releasing large quantities of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The rate at which Earth absorbs the sun's heat is increasing, and a likely candidate for this phenomenon is atmospheric carbon dioxide. Average surface temperatures have been rising consistently over recent decades, to the extent that glaciers are melting, antarctic ice-shelves are becoming unstable, and extreme weather events appear to be occurring more often. Climate scientists are not unanimous, but the large majority believe that human activity is a factor in climate change and instability.
Those of us with long memories are strongly reminded of the fate of the poor Venusians.
The gist of the new research, by University of Washington atmospheric scientist Qiang Fu, is that the troposphere (the lowest layer of the Earth's atmosphere, the 7.5 km nearest the ground,) is in fact warming up, at a rate of about 0.2 degrees Celsius per decade. Previously, although surface temperatures had been observed to increase, warming in the troposphere had not been conclusively observed, and global warming skeptics seized on this to pooh-pooh the idea of human-caused climate change. That position is now harder to maintain, although mendacious Ann-Coulter-wannabe Melanie Phillips has tried to rubbish the work of Qiang Fu and his team. She had dug up the well-known Dr. Roy Spencer, a chum of Prof. John 'plant food' Christy, and peppered her opinion piece with snippets of his work, although there is not enough context for non-specialists to understand the detail of their piece. As quoted, it simply functions to impress the kind of people who take Phillips seriously with unintelligible jargon. She links to the Spencer's piece at Tech Central Station ('Where Free Markets Meet Technology',) and ends by repeating an unwarranted snipe at Nature, the peer-reviewed journal where Qiang Fu's work appeared.
Let's ignore the smokescreen, and state the position simply. Human activity is releasing large quantities of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The rate at which Earth absorbs the sun's heat is increasing, and a likely candidate for this phenomenon is atmospheric carbon dioxide. Average surface temperatures have been rising consistently over recent decades, to the extent that glaciers are melting, antarctic ice-shelves are becoming unstable, and extreme weather events appear to be occurring more often. Climate scientists are not unanimous, but the large majority believe that human activity is a factor in climate change and instability.
Those of us with long memories are strongly reminded of the fate of the poor Venusians.
Saturday, May 08, 2004
The security organs of the US have long condoned, taught and practiced torture.
For decades, the 'School of the Americas' at Fort Benning, Georgia, provided instruction in a range of repressive techniques to help their clients in Guatamala, El Salvador, Peru, Argentina and other Latin American states. The targets of repression included Trades Unions organisers, Catholic priests, Indigenous American's rights groups, and anyone else who threatened to reduce the profit margins of US corporations. The school's website is still up, maintained by the DOD 'for historical purposes,' and there you can read stories such as 'U.S. Army's School of the Americas excels in human rights' and 'Army School of Americas Attacked Unfairly.' The school itself was closed in January 2001, and reopened immediately with a new name: the 'Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation.'
More interesting are the documents produced by this vile outfit, a sample of which can be found at GWU's National Security Archive. The 'Human Resource Exploitation Training Manual' became quite famous, and some handwritten alterations can be seen in the above archive to change the tone from 'this is how to...' to 'this is how it is done, but you mustn't...'
The pattern of torture currently emerging in Iraq fits the pattern established over decades in Latin America. But the organs can maintain that they only use 'torture-lite' (a phrase first heard in connection with Bagram AFB in Afghanistan,) because the heavy stuff is 'outsourced,' in accordance with war-criminal Rumsfeld's ideological bent. Heavy, physical torture is practiced in various states, such as Syria and Egypt, and although the US is happy to criticize these states, its organs also send random suspects to them for 'extraordinary rendition,' - torture.
As the torturers of the US organs try to disappear into a fog of euphemism, real people are disappearing into jails and camps all over the world.
For decades, the 'School of the Americas' at Fort Benning, Georgia, provided instruction in a range of repressive techniques to help their clients in Guatamala, El Salvador, Peru, Argentina and other Latin American states. The targets of repression included Trades Unions organisers, Catholic priests, Indigenous American's rights groups, and anyone else who threatened to reduce the profit margins of US corporations. The school's website is still up, maintained by the DOD 'for historical purposes,' and there you can read stories such as 'U.S. Army's School of the Americas excels in human rights' and 'Army School of Americas Attacked Unfairly.' The school itself was closed in January 2001, and reopened immediately with a new name: the 'Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation.'
More interesting are the documents produced by this vile outfit, a sample of which can be found at GWU's National Security Archive. The 'Human Resource Exploitation Training Manual' became quite famous, and some handwritten alterations can be seen in the above archive to change the tone from 'this is how to...' to 'this is how it is done, but you mustn't...'
The pattern of torture currently emerging in Iraq fits the pattern established over decades in Latin America. But the organs can maintain that they only use 'torture-lite' (a phrase first heard in connection with Bagram AFB in Afghanistan,) because the heavy stuff is 'outsourced,' in accordance with war-criminal Rumsfeld's ideological bent. Heavy, physical torture is practiced in various states, such as Syria and Egypt, and although the US is happy to criticize these states, its organs also send random suspects to them for 'extraordinary rendition,' - torture.
As the torturers of the US organs try to disappear into a fog of euphemism, real people are disappearing into jails and camps all over the world.
Friday, May 07, 2004
Today is the fiftieth anniverary of the French defeat at Din Bien Phu in northern Indochina, a battle which marked the end of French empire in Southeast Asia. To mark the occasion, here is an analysis of the later US-Vietnam war by the tactician responsible for both Vietnamese victories:
'We were not strong enough to drive a half million American troops out of Vietnam, but that wasn't our aim. We sought to break the will of the American government to continue the conflict. Westmoreland was wrong to count on his superior firepower to grind us down. Our Soviet and Chinese comrades also failed to grasp our approach when they asked how many divisions we had in relation to the Americans, how we would cope with their technology, their artillery, their air attacks. We were waging a people's war, à la manière vietnamienne - a total war in which every man, every woman, every unit, big or small, is sustained by a mobilized population. So America's sophisticated weapons, electronic devices and the rest were to no avail. Despite its military power, America misgauged the limits of its power. In war there are two factors - human beings and weapons. Ultimately, though, human beings are the decisive factor. Human beings! Human beings!'
- General Vo Nguyen Giap
'We were not strong enough to drive a half million American troops out of Vietnam, but that wasn't our aim. We sought to break the will of the American government to continue the conflict. Westmoreland was wrong to count on his superior firepower to grind us down. Our Soviet and Chinese comrades also failed to grasp our approach when they asked how many divisions we had in relation to the Americans, how we would cope with their technology, their artillery, their air attacks. We were waging a people's war, à la manière vietnamienne - a total war in which every man, every woman, every unit, big or small, is sustained by a mobilized population. So America's sophisticated weapons, electronic devices and the rest were to no avail. Despite its military power, America misgauged the limits of its power. In war there are two factors - human beings and weapons. Ultimately, though, human beings are the decisive factor. Human beings! Human beings!'
- General Vo Nguyen Giap
Another in the occasional series of interesting words from Earth languages:
Balagan (Modern Hebrew): Big mess.
Bu'ah (Modern Hebrew): A personal mental and behavioral 'bubble,' only extending to one's immediate neighbourhood, friends and family. A cognitive defensive mechanism, to prevent one from thinking about the balagan.
Hubris (Ancient Greek): Arrogance, overweening pride, defiance shown to the gods.
Miasma (Ancient Greek): Ineradicable moral or spiritual defilement, taint or corruption. Passed from father to son.
The Earth Desk can't think of a use for these words at the moment, but maybe they'll come in handy one day.
Balagan (Modern Hebrew): Big mess.
Bu'ah (Modern Hebrew): A personal mental and behavioral 'bubble,' only extending to one's immediate neighbourhood, friends and family. A cognitive defensive mechanism, to prevent one from thinking about the balagan.
Hubris (Ancient Greek): Arrogance, overweening pride, defiance shown to the gods.
Miasma (Ancient Greek): Ineradicable moral or spiritual defilement, taint or corruption. Passed from father to son.
The Earth Desk can't think of a use for these words at the moment, but maybe they'll come in handy one day.
Thursday, May 06, 2004
'Their treatment does not reflect the nature of the American people. That's not the way we do things in America.' So said President Dumbfuck after the torture of detainees came to light.
This view was also expressed by malignant war-monger Rumsfeld, when he said that such abuse of power is 'un-American.'
Even some racist pseudo-progressive op-ed has included views such as:
'What sense can we make of the hideous photographs …? I don't think we will ever understand them, as we will never understand the minds of mass murderers and torturers.'
All this demonstrates profound ignorance of human psychology, as these two experiments show.
Stanley Milgram found that a large majority of normal people would torture other people if told to do so by an 'authority figure.' (brief, detailed.)
Philip Zimbardo found, in an experiment designed only to examine people in captivity, that many people will show surprising levels of brutality if there is institutional support for, or tolerance of, such behaviour. The two week experiment had to be called off after only six days, for fear that someone would get seriously hurt. (brief, detailed.)
People who say 'our people aren't like that' are delusional and bigoted.
People who believe that 'most people aren't like that' are delusional and naïve.
Authority = Institution + Violence.
This view was also expressed by malignant war-monger Rumsfeld, when he said that such abuse of power is 'un-American.'
Even some racist pseudo-progressive op-ed has included views such as:
'What sense can we make of the hideous photographs …? I don't think we will ever understand them, as we will never understand the minds of mass murderers and torturers.'
All this demonstrates profound ignorance of human psychology, as these two experiments show.
Stanley Milgram found that a large majority of normal people would torture other people if told to do so by an 'authority figure.' (brief, detailed.)
Philip Zimbardo found, in an experiment designed only to examine people in captivity, that many people will show surprising levels of brutality if there is institutional support for, or tolerance of, such behaviour. The two week experiment had to be called off after only six days, for fear that someone would get seriously hurt. (brief, detailed.)
People who say 'our people aren't like that' are delusional and bigoted.
People who believe that 'most people aren't like that' are delusional and naïve.
Authority = Institution + Violence.
Wednesday, May 05, 2004
The members of the 372nd Military Police Company in the Abu Ghraib photos appear not to want to shoulder the whole responsibility for what they have done.
Their families are presenting an image of confused, untrained young people, well-meaning but out of their depth. Before arriving in Iraq, the 372nd newsletter (sent to soldier's families) reported that 'morale was high, church attendance was regular, and the marching was enthusiastic,' although the amount of sympathy gained by publicizing that is questionable.
"Why was a mechanic allowed to handle prisoners?" asked one parent. "Who was their supervisor? Where was the leadership?"
It's a fair point. The leadership does not appear in a good light either. The commander responsible for Abu Ghraib at the time, General Janis Karpinski, boasted to the St. Petersburg Times, "living conditions now are better in prison than at home. At one point, we were concerned they wouldn't want to leave." This shows a limited understanding of the human desire for freedom, surely surprising in an American.
Some of the soldiers have hired lawyers who are arguing that they were encouraged, even ordered, to perpetrate acts of torture on their captives. But their lawyers should know better. It's a defence that has been tried, and which has failed, before. The Nuremberg Tribunal ruled:
'The fact that the defendant acted pursuant to order of his Government or of a superior shall not free him from responsibility...' and
'That a soldier was ordered to kill or torture in violation of the international law of war has never been recognised as a defence to such acts of brutality.'
This remains the case, but the Nuremberg judges made another relevant ruling, on the subject of waging wars of aggression:
'War is essentially an evil thing. Its consequences are not confined to belligerent States alone but affect the whole world. To initiate a war of aggression, therefore, is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole.'
Of course, Bush and Blair will escape trial. They are exempt, under what might be called the Kissinger Corollary:
Laws punish only the defeated, the weak, the helpless.
Breaking news:
A BBC correspondent was among a group who visited Abu-Ghraib today. He reported (Radio 4, 'PM') that a crowd of prisoners started chanting that their rights and dignity had been taken away. The US military wouldn't let the correspondent interview or film the shouting prisoners - on the grounds that filming them would violate their Geneva Convention rights. The group of correspondents were herded back onto their bus...
Their families are presenting an image of confused, untrained young people, well-meaning but out of their depth. Before arriving in Iraq, the 372nd newsletter (sent to soldier's families) reported that 'morale was high, church attendance was regular, and the marching was enthusiastic,' although the amount of sympathy gained by publicizing that is questionable.
"Why was a mechanic allowed to handle prisoners?" asked one parent. "Who was their supervisor? Where was the leadership?"
It's a fair point. The leadership does not appear in a good light either. The commander responsible for Abu Ghraib at the time, General Janis Karpinski, boasted to the St. Petersburg Times, "living conditions now are better in prison than at home. At one point, we were concerned they wouldn't want to leave." This shows a limited understanding of the human desire for freedom, surely surprising in an American.
Some of the soldiers have hired lawyers who are arguing that they were encouraged, even ordered, to perpetrate acts of torture on their captives. But their lawyers should know better. It's a defence that has been tried, and which has failed, before. The Nuremberg Tribunal ruled:
'The fact that the defendant acted pursuant to order of his Government or of a superior shall not free him from responsibility...' and
'That a soldier was ordered to kill or torture in violation of the international law of war has never been recognised as a defence to such acts of brutality.'
This remains the case, but the Nuremberg judges made another relevant ruling, on the subject of waging wars of aggression:
'War is essentially an evil thing. Its consequences are not confined to belligerent States alone but affect the whole world. To initiate a war of aggression, therefore, is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole.'
Of course, Bush and Blair will escape trial. They are exempt, under what might be called the Kissinger Corollary:
Laws punish only the defeated, the weak, the helpless.
Breaking news:
A BBC correspondent was among a group who visited Abu-Ghraib today. He reported (Radio 4, 'PM') that a crowd of prisoners started chanting that their rights and dignity had been taken away. The US military wouldn't let the correspondent interview or film the shouting prisoners - on the grounds that filming them would violate their Geneva Convention rights. The group of correspondents were herded back onto their bus...
Radio Free Neptune is considering offering Earthling cartoonist Steve Bell a solar-system-wide syndication deal, on the basis of work like this.
Tuesday, May 04, 2004
Henry Kissinger, repugnant sugar-daddy to numerous tinpot dictators, surfaced on Wolf Blitzer's CNN programme 'Late Edition' last Sunday. The atrocity-monger made some illuminating comments on the Abu Ghraib photos. Let's pick up the interview after his boilerplate shock and outrage...
BLITZER: "But let me interrupt, Dr. Kissinger. Let me interrupt, Dr. Kissinger, and say this: Everyone is saying, "shocked, shocked." they're totally shocked by this. But you know the nature of interrogation of prisoners, prisoners who were suspected of knowing information that could result in the deaths of American soldiers, to humiliate them to stop just short of formally torturing them. Hasn't that been going on in every war?"
KISSINGER: "I suspect that pressure has been put on prisoners possessing intelligence information in every war, and I think what should also keep in mind who these people might have been."
They might have had all the hallmarks of al-Qaida. They might have been random Iraqis, picked up by the uniformly non-Arabic speaking grunts. Better torture 'em to find out, eh, Henry?
"Still, there is no excuse for the pictures that we saw."
Does he mean that there's no excuse for the actions depicted? Or does he mean what he said?
"We have to avoid generalizing this as an example of the conduct of the American armed forces, which behave honorably and decently and courageously."
We have to avoid generalizing, like Amnesty International and the US Army's own report do - Seymour Hersh, earlier in the same programme reported that "[General] Taguba [who investigated the torture reports] says otherwise. He says this is across the board. And what he says that's very important, is that these are jails, by the way, when we talk about prisoners, these are full of civilians. These are people picked up at random checkpoints and random going into houses. And even in the Taguba report, he mentions that upwards of 60 percent or more have nothing to do with anything."
Kissinger continued
"This was -- these events occur under tremendous pressure,"
The Americans in the photos certainly look stressed, don't they?
"when it is believed that very special intelligence information is available. I repeat, they are not excusable. But these are not standard procedures that are even conceivable toward ordinary prisoners."
Henry is lying. The US military is randomly disappearing citizens of the countries it occupies (Afghanistan too) who are detained indefinitely and often tortured. Welcome to the New American Century.
BLITZER: "But let me interrupt, Dr. Kissinger. Let me interrupt, Dr. Kissinger, and say this: Everyone is saying, "shocked, shocked." they're totally shocked by this. But you know the nature of interrogation of prisoners, prisoners who were suspected of knowing information that could result in the deaths of American soldiers, to humiliate them to stop just short of formally torturing them. Hasn't that been going on in every war?"
KISSINGER: "I suspect that pressure has been put on prisoners possessing intelligence information in every war, and I think what should also keep in mind who these people might have been."
They might have had all the hallmarks of al-Qaida. They might have been random Iraqis, picked up by the uniformly non-Arabic speaking grunts. Better torture 'em to find out, eh, Henry?
"Still, there is no excuse for the pictures that we saw."
Does he mean that there's no excuse for the actions depicted? Or does he mean what he said?
"We have to avoid generalizing this as an example of the conduct of the American armed forces, which behave honorably and decently and courageously."
We have to avoid generalizing, like Amnesty International and the US Army's own report do - Seymour Hersh, earlier in the same programme reported that "[General] Taguba [who investigated the torture reports] says otherwise. He says this is across the board. And what he says that's very important, is that these are jails, by the way, when we talk about prisoners, these are full of civilians. These are people picked up at random checkpoints and random going into houses. And even in the Taguba report, he mentions that upwards of 60 percent or more have nothing to do with anything."
Kissinger continued
"This was -- these events occur under tremendous pressure,"
The Americans in the photos certainly look stressed, don't they?
"when it is believed that very special intelligence information is available. I repeat, they are not excusable. But these are not standard procedures that are even conceivable toward ordinary prisoners."
Henry is lying. The US military is randomly disappearing citizens of the countries it occupies (Afghanistan too) who are detained indefinitely and often tortured. Welcome to the New American Century.
Following the universal welcome the Iraqis gave to the new Iraqi flag, the CPA has decided to win further hearts and minds by changing the Iraqi national anthem too. Suggestions have been pouring in.
Ahmed Chalabi wants Gloria Gaynor's 'I Will Survive,' but this is thought to be unlikely.
UN Special Envoy Brahimi favours the Talking Heads' 'Road to Nowhere,' but General Kermit has vetoed any Talking Heads, and also ruled out 'Jailhouse Rock.' Sources close to the General have hinted that if he can't have the Muppet Show theme, he wants 'I Don't Like Mahdis' by Bon Jovi.
Viceroy Bremer himself has suggested Johnny Cash's 'The Green, Green Zone of Home.' Tony Blair is known to be a fan of '21st Century Schizoid Man' by King Crimson, but he has no say in anything, because he's a prick. President Cheney, of course, has backed ABBA's 'Money, Money, Money.' A spokesterrorist for al-Qaida suggested Bert Bacharach's 'Trains and Boats and Planes.' Another terrorist organisation, the US Marine Corps, voted for the Beatles song 'Happiness is a Warm Gun.'
General Abizaid thinks that Aretha Franklin's 'Chain (of command) of Fools' would be the ticket, putting him surprisingly close to influential Shia cleric al-Sistani, who chose her 'People Get Ready.'
Insane and sinister Richard Perle is already thinking about 'Next' (Jaques Brel), and hopeless Secretary of Offense Rumsfeld is thought to be backing the Guns 'n' Roses track 'Sweet Child of Mine.' Spain's new leader Sr. Zapatero mentioned 'I'm Leavin' Now' (Johnny Cash) in a bored voice. Chirac and Schroeder issued a joint recommendation for the Horace Silver Quintet's 'Sanctimonious Sam.'
Moqtadr al-Sadr wants Fatwah Domino's 'I Hear You Knocking (But You Can't Come In),' but Kofi Annan suggested Bob Dylan's 'Everything is Broken,' and many ordinary Iraqis chose Dylan's 'It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding).' Evil Paul Wolfowitz is also a Dylan fan, recommending 'Man In a Long Black-Op.'
Nobody at all has suggested Louis Armstrong's 'What a Wonderful World.'
Ahmed Chalabi wants Gloria Gaynor's 'I Will Survive,' but this is thought to be unlikely.
UN Special Envoy Brahimi favours the Talking Heads' 'Road to Nowhere,' but General Kermit has vetoed any Talking Heads, and also ruled out 'Jailhouse Rock.' Sources close to the General have hinted that if he can't have the Muppet Show theme, he wants 'I Don't Like Mahdis' by Bon Jovi.
Viceroy Bremer himself has suggested Johnny Cash's 'The Green, Green Zone of Home.' Tony Blair is known to be a fan of '21st Century Schizoid Man' by King Crimson, but he has no say in anything, because he's a prick. President Cheney, of course, has backed ABBA's 'Money, Money, Money.' A spokesterrorist for al-Qaida suggested Bert Bacharach's 'Trains and Boats and Planes.' Another terrorist organisation, the US Marine Corps, voted for the Beatles song 'Happiness is a Warm Gun.'
General Abizaid thinks that Aretha Franklin's 'Chain (of command) of Fools' would be the ticket, putting him surprisingly close to influential Shia cleric al-Sistani, who chose her 'People Get Ready.'
Insane and sinister Richard Perle is already thinking about 'Next' (Jaques Brel), and hopeless Secretary of Offense Rumsfeld is thought to be backing the Guns 'n' Roses track 'Sweet Child of Mine.' Spain's new leader Sr. Zapatero mentioned 'I'm Leavin' Now' (Johnny Cash) in a bored voice. Chirac and Schroeder issued a joint recommendation for the Horace Silver Quintet's 'Sanctimonious Sam.'
Moqtadr al-Sadr wants Fatwah Domino's 'I Hear You Knocking (But You Can't Come In),' but Kofi Annan suggested Bob Dylan's 'Everything is Broken,' and many ordinary Iraqis chose Dylan's 'It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding).' Evil Paul Wolfowitz is also a Dylan fan, recommending 'Man In a Long Black-Op.'
Nobody at all has suggested Louis Armstrong's 'What a Wonderful World.'
Monday, May 03, 2004
About a month ago, the Earth Desk wagered the sum of ten British pounds of money with the Resolute Cynic, concerning the forthcoming balloon-collecting competition in the US. Cynic thinks that Baby Bush will be a one-term president, just as Papa Bush was, because of the mounting body-count of US troops in Iraq, and the revelations of the stream of highly placed whistleblowers from the US establishment demonstrating how inept and delusional the US ruling junta is. The steady erosion of support for the as-stupid-as-he-is-odious president seems to bear out Cynic's view.
These are reasonable grounds for thinking that the Earth Desk tenner is going to be converted into beer by the Earthling, but there are also signs pointing the other way. The deeply sinister Diebold company which manufactures computerised voting equipment has just had all of its gizmos decertified in California, but they are not the only electoral machine company, nor have they been decertified in any other US state (yet). It is quite likely that the November election will feature inauditable electronic voting systems from Republican-supporting companies in a number of places, despite the efforts of the good people at Black Box Voting and others.
Even if the Republicans fail to steal the election with high-tech tomfoolery, there's another tried and tested method which they wouldn't scruple to use: disenfranchising African-Americans, an overwhelmingly Democratic demographic group.
The wager still looks finely balanced. Needless to say, Radio Free Neptune's coverage will remain objective and fair, despite financial interest in the outcome.
These are reasonable grounds for thinking that the Earth Desk tenner is going to be converted into beer by the Earthling, but there are also signs pointing the other way. The deeply sinister Diebold company which manufactures computerised voting equipment has just had all of its gizmos decertified in California, but they are not the only electoral machine company, nor have they been decertified in any other US state (yet). It is quite likely that the November election will feature inauditable electronic voting systems from Republican-supporting companies in a number of places, despite the efforts of the good people at Black Box Voting and others.
Even if the Republicans fail to steal the election with high-tech tomfoolery, there's another tried and tested method which they wouldn't scruple to use: disenfranchising African-Americans, an overwhelmingly Democratic demographic group.
The wager still looks finely balanced. Needless to say, Radio Free Neptune's coverage will remain objective and fair, despite financial interest in the outcome.
The insurgency/terrorism in Saudi Arabia is becoming harder to ignore - although media attention in the West has focused far more on neighbouring Iraq, it is clear that the temperature in the kingdom has been rising fast since 911.
On the BBC's Today program, Crown Prince Hassan of Jordan referred to 'enormous problems of explosions all over Saudi Arabia,' perhaps meaning attacks like these (here, here, and here.) As a result, some western companies are pulling their people out, US citizens have been advised to leave by their embassy, and US diplomatic staff are confined to their quarters and offices. The acting ruler, Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, has vowed to strike the terrorists with an iron fist, which usually does the trick.
The ruling family, after which the country was named, have some severe problems - the current king, King Fahd, is old and seriously ill, and his death may trigger political instability in the elite, who have been playing a double game for years.
They have conducted business in the traditional capitalist way, living a fabulously opulent lifestyle by maintaining close links with the capitalist elite in the west, the US in particular, and the filthy Nazi-collaborating Bush clan in particular in particular. As is well known, the bin Ladens have also traded merrily with the Bushes.
However, Saudi society has been governed in a repressive and puritanical way, following a school of Islamic thought totally at odds with the capitalist elite's lifestyle, and to maintain support from the clerics they seem to have been funding and supporting some very sinister organisations. (here and here, counter-argument here).
With the US tackling terrorism, not in terms of arresting criminals, but in terms of a war perceived as an attack on all things Islamic, the position of the House of Saud is becoming more precarious by the week.
On the BBC's Today program, Crown Prince Hassan of Jordan referred to 'enormous problems of explosions all over Saudi Arabia,' perhaps meaning attacks like these (here, here, and here.) As a result, some western companies are pulling their people out, US citizens have been advised to leave by their embassy, and US diplomatic staff are confined to their quarters and offices. The acting ruler, Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, has vowed to strike the terrorists with an iron fist, which usually does the trick.
The ruling family, after which the country was named, have some severe problems - the current king, King Fahd, is old and seriously ill, and his death may trigger political instability in the elite, who have been playing a double game for years.
They have conducted business in the traditional capitalist way, living a fabulously opulent lifestyle by maintaining close links with the capitalist elite in the west, the US in particular, and the filthy Nazi-collaborating Bush clan in particular in particular. As is well known, the bin Ladens have also traded merrily with the Bushes.
However, Saudi society has been governed in a repressive and puritanical way, following a school of Islamic thought totally at odds with the capitalist elite's lifestyle, and to maintain support from the clerics they seem to have been funding and supporting some very sinister organisations. (here and here, counter-argument here).
With the US tackling terrorism, not in terms of arresting criminals, but in terms of a war perceived as an attack on all things Islamic, the position of the House of Saud is becoming more precarious by the week.
Sunday, May 02, 2004
David Kay, ex-head of the Iraq Survey Group, today stated that the pre-war failure of intelligence to assess the position correctly, and to predict the 'post-conflict environment,' was due to an uncritical reliance on the tales told by Iraqi exiles. Since the neo-cons are generally fans of Machiavelli - one of the interests of Leo Strauss, their chief theoretician - it is surprising that they missed his explicit advice on exiles:
'so intense is their desire to get back home that they naturally believe much that is false and artfully add much more.' [Discourses, bk II, ch 31].
How true.
'so intense is their desire to get back home that they naturally believe much that is false and artfully add much more.' [Discourses, bk II, ch 31].
How true.
Saturday, May 01, 2004
Some British pundits have recently been rather smug about the superiority of British methods of colonial 'peacekeeping' (yup, thats what it is, sure) over American ones, as these remarks by hired killer General Sir Michael Jackson show, so the photos of British troops humiliating and torturing an Iraqi in today's Daily Mirror are rather embarassing.
Skull-faced auxiliary Jackson, the Chief of the General Staff, immediately went into a paroxysm of bullshit, the content of which you can easily guess:'not fit to wear the Queen's uniform... besmirched the good name of the Army... ill-discipline of a few soldiers... &c... &c...'
This off-the-shelf mendacity was given the stamp of approval by 10 Downing Street, and the Armed Forces Minister made his own noises of concern.
The fluency of the establishment when it comes to excusing the Army comes from years of practice. Brutality and torture have been hallmarks of Britain's military interventions since WWII, and similar reports of atrocities have come from Cyprus, Kenya (before and after independence,) and Ireland to name three. The fun and games in Malaya, Iran, Kenya and British Guiana are described in 'Web of Deceit' which makes interesting but grim reading.
Brutal government policy, implemented brutally. Same old same old.
Skull-faced auxiliary Jackson, the Chief of the General Staff, immediately went into a paroxysm of bullshit, the content of which you can easily guess:'not fit to wear the Queen's uniform... besmirched the good name of the Army... ill-discipline of a few soldiers... &c... &c...'
This off-the-shelf mendacity was given the stamp of approval by 10 Downing Street, and the Armed Forces Minister made his own noises of concern.
The fluency of the establishment when it comes to excusing the Army comes from years of practice. Brutality and torture have been hallmarks of Britain's military interventions since WWII, and similar reports of atrocities have come from Cyprus, Kenya (before and after independence,) and Ireland to name three. The fun and games in Malaya, Iran, Kenya and British Guiana are described in 'Web of Deceit' which makes interesting but grim reading.
Brutal government policy, implemented brutally. Same old same old.
