'Democracy' Brings Bleak Days
BAGHDAD - Many Iraqis see dismal days ahead in the face of rising violence and the decision by the U.S. administration not to seek any further funds for reconstruction.
"It is obvious that the situation is much worse than it used to be," retired army general Ahmed Abdul Aziz told IPS. "Can you walk free in the streets? Did you receive your food ration last month? It is essential for most Iraqis to receive the food ration just to feed their families."
The former Iraqi general added: "When you go to the hospital, do you find medicines? The answer is no medicines, no services, no sheets or pillows, no beds, no nursing, and no ambulances to carry you from your house."
World Bank president and former U.S. deputy defence secretary Paul Wolfowitz had said Iraq could "really finance its own reconstruction."
But such words have fallen flat because the state of the infrastructure is clearly worse now than even during the harsh economic sanctions of the 1990s.
As the third anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq approaches, a study by Linda Bilmes at Harvard University and Dr. Joseph Stiglitz at Columbia University found that "the total economic costs of the war, including direct costs and macroeconomic costs, lie between 1 trillion and 2 trillion dollars."
A trillion is a thousand billion. This money has done little for Iraq. The situation on the ground remains dire, with estimates of unemployment at 70 percent. "My three sons have graduated from college, yet they still cannot find decent jobs because there are no jobs available," former deputy minister for trade Dr. Abdul Hadi told IPS.
The Saddam regime "did not allow any of the graduates to be without jobs," he said. Now there is even a severe shortage of teachers in the universities.
"I will not be satisfied until I find that all the people have the will to rebuild their country instead of humiliating their brothers," said Dr.. Hadi.
"I want to tell (U.S. President George) Bush that he has destroyed our country for at least the next 25 years. He is the greatest terrorist, Arabs can never forget." People have no recourse to law any more.
"We are not living in a proper way," restaurant owner Qassim Abdul Hamed told IPS. "We are suffering at the hands of those who come in their vehicles just to have meals free of charge."
The restaurant has to go on serving free meals to the Iraqi police, he said. "We can't say a word because they have guns." And the free meals have to be served when the cost of food has risen due to fuel shortages.
"There have been scuffles in the restaurant which we have not seen before," Hamed said. Munaim Abid Hassan, a 22-year-old waitress at the restaurant said she is working to feed 12 people in her family, since she was the only one with a job.
"We used to love the American people but not any more," she said. "Hatred is spreading all over now, and everyone wants revenge on them. You (Bush) are bringing disasters to the people of your own country, not only to Iraqis."
With 2,206 U.S. soldiers killed so far, and more than 100 attacks on coalition forces every day, occupation forces appear unable to protect either themselves or Iraqis.
Under the Geneva Conventions, it is the responsibility of the occupying power to provide security for citizens.
"The Americans destroyed everything in Iraq," Gen. Aziz said. "I think every Iraqi should weep all his life over what is going on.
Bush should be among the greatest terrorists along with his colleagues in Britain, because they are all criminals who have killed hundreds of thousands of Iraqis."
I can honestly say I have to agree. ~kmw
Copyright © 2006 IPS-Inter Press Service
10.1.06
Blue Hat.Info
Blue Hat.Info
People are afraid for the future, angry at the dysfunctional status quo and hungry for a pragmatic basis for hope. . . here it is! BlueHat.info--tools for democracy:
Before we can make good decisions about where we want to take our communities, we need to know where we are now. Clear financial reports are the first step. First let's create a report format using the US Federal Government Financial Report.
Once we have a model that is useful to all of us, we'll move on to reports for all of our communities from local to state to multi-national. Think how useful it will be to quickly make comparisons and look for successful patterns of spending.
We might hope to see the finances of the Union as clear and intelligible as a merchant's books, so that every member of Congress, and every man of any mind in the Union, should be able to comprehend them, to investigate abuses, and consequently to control them. President Thomas Jefferson 1802
The abuses far surpass the imaginable and we the people are paying for it.
People are afraid for the future, angry at the dysfunctional status quo and hungry for a pragmatic basis for hope. . . here it is! BlueHat.info--tools for democracy:
Before we can make good decisions about where we want to take our communities, we need to know where we are now. Clear financial reports are the first step. First let's create a report format using the US Federal Government Financial Report.
Once we have a model that is useful to all of us, we'll move on to reports for all of our communities from local to state to multi-national. Think how useful it will be to quickly make comparisons and look for successful patterns of spending.
We might hope to see the finances of the Union as clear and intelligible as a merchant's books, so that every member of Congress, and every man of any mind in the Union, should be able to comprehend them, to investigate abuses, and consequently to control them. President Thomas Jefferson 1802
The abuses far surpass the imaginable and we the people are paying for it.
Bombers Kill 18 in Iraq; U.S. Ambassador Nearby - New York Times
Bombers Kill 18 in Iraq; U.S. Ambassador Nearby - New York Times
BAGHDAD, Iraq, Jan. 9 - Two suicide bombers carrying police identity cards walked up to an Interior Ministry checkpoint on Monday morning and blew themselves up hundreds of yards from a ceremony attended by the American ambassador, killing at least 18 police officers and wounding 25, officials said.
Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, which took place shortly before noon inside a secure zone shared by the city's Police Academy, where the ceremony was being held. Iraq's interior and defense ministers were also at the event, commemorating the formation of the Iraqi Police, but the officials, including the ambassador, were far enough away that the blast did not endanger them.
Another fine day in Baghdad, you know, the war we are "winning"...
BAGHDAD, Iraq, Jan. 9 - Two suicide bombers carrying police identity cards walked up to an Interior Ministry checkpoint on Monday morning and blew themselves up hundreds of yards from a ceremony attended by the American ambassador, killing at least 18 police officers and wounding 25, officials said.
Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, which took place shortly before noon inside a secure zone shared by the city's Police Academy, where the ceremony was being held. Iraq's interior and defense ministers were also at the event, commemorating the formation of the Iraqi Police, but the officials, including the ambassador, were far enough away that the blast did not endanger them.
Another fine day in Baghdad, you know, the war we are "winning"...
COVERT ACTIVITIES AND COVER-UPS MOST PEOPLE ARE NOT AWARE OF - David Icke - Tell the Truth!
COVERT ACTIVITIES AND COVER-UPS MOST PEOPLE ARE NOT AWARE OF - David Icke - Tell the Truth!
From extensive research I am conducting, this is not at all far from the truth. The primary objective is US Imperialism and one world dominance. Sorry ma'am, thats the facts.
They don't care who gets killed in the process, otherwise 9-11 would never have happened.
From extensive research I am conducting, this is not at all far from the truth. The primary objective is US Imperialism and one world dominance. Sorry ma'am, thats the facts.
They don't care who gets killed in the process, otherwise 9-11 would never have happened.
Empire Notes
Empire Notes
NOTE: Doctors from four hospitals in Baghdad were interviewed in compiling this report; all asked that their names be left out.
Baghdad, Iraq -- “Why do you keep asking about the closing of the Fallujah hospital?” my Iraqi translator asks in exasperation. I explain that this is big news, and it hasn’t really been reported in English. He looks at me, incredulous; all Iraqis know about it....
The United States has also impeded the operation of hospitals in other ways. Although the first Western reports of U.S. snipers shooting at ambulances (see http://www.empirenotes.org/fallujah.html) caused something of a furor, two days ago at a press conference the Iraqi Minister of Health, Khudair Abbas, confirmed that U.S. forces had shot at ambulances not just in Fallujah but also in Sadr City, the sprawling slum in East Baghdad. He condemned the acts and said he had asked for an explanation from his superiors, the Governing Council and Paul Bremer.
There are also persistent claims that after an outbreak of hostilities American soldiers visit hospitals asking for information about the wounded, with the intent of removing potential resistance members and interrogating them.
In fact, it’s fairly simple: the United States has its military goals and simply does not care how many Iraqi civilians have to be killed in order to maximize the military efficiency of their operations. A senior British army commander recently criticized the Americans for viewing the Iraqis as Untermenschen -- a lower order of human being. He also said the average soldier views all Iraqis as enemies or potential enemies. That is precisely the case. I have heard the same thing from dozens of people here -- “They don’t care what happens to Iraqis.”
...and that's the f***ed up truth.
NOTE: Doctors from four hospitals in Baghdad were interviewed in compiling this report; all asked that their names be left out.
Baghdad, Iraq -- “Why do you keep asking about the closing of the Fallujah hospital?” my Iraqi translator asks in exasperation. I explain that this is big news, and it hasn’t really been reported in English. He looks at me, incredulous; all Iraqis know about it....
The United States has also impeded the operation of hospitals in other ways. Although the first Western reports of U.S. snipers shooting at ambulances (see http://www.empirenotes.org/fallujah.html) caused something of a furor, two days ago at a press conference the Iraqi Minister of Health, Khudair Abbas, confirmed that U.S. forces had shot at ambulances not just in Fallujah but also in Sadr City, the sprawling slum in East Baghdad. He condemned the acts and said he had asked for an explanation from his superiors, the Governing Council and Paul Bremer.
There are also persistent claims that after an outbreak of hostilities American soldiers visit hospitals asking for information about the wounded, with the intent of removing potential resistance members and interrogating them.
In fact, it’s fairly simple: the United States has its military goals and simply does not care how many Iraqi civilians have to be killed in order to maximize the military efficiency of their operations. A senior British army commander recently criticized the Americans for viewing the Iraqis as Untermenschen -- a lower order of human being. He also said the average soldier views all Iraqis as enemies or potential enemies. That is precisely the case. I have heard the same thing from dozens of people here -- “They don’t care what happens to Iraqis.”
...and that's the f***ed up truth.
Belafonte Calls Bush 'Greatest Terrorist'
Belafonte Calls Bush 'Greatest Terrorist'
Harry- thank you, you took the words right out of my mouth.
I couldn't agree with you more. ~kmw
CARACAS, Venezuela - The American singer and activist Harry Belafonte called President Bush "the greatest terrorist in the world" on Sunday and said millions of Americans support the socialist revolution of Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez.
Belafonte led a delegation of Americans including the actor Danny Glover and the Princeton University scholar Cornel West that met the Venezuelan president for more than six hours late Saturday. Some in the group attended Chavez's television and radio broadcast Sunday.
"No matter what the greatest tyrant in the world, the greatest terrorist in the world, George W. Bush says, we're here to tell you: Not hundreds, not thousands, but millions of the American people ... support your revolution," Belafonte told Chavez during the broadcast.
Harry- thank you, you took the words right out of my mouth.
I couldn't agree with you more. ~kmw
CARACAS, Venezuela - The American singer and activist Harry Belafonte called President Bush "the greatest terrorist in the world" on Sunday and said millions of Americans support the socialist revolution of Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez.
Belafonte led a delegation of Americans including the actor Danny Glover and the Princeton University scholar Cornel West that met the Venezuelan president for more than six hours late Saturday. Some in the group attended Chavez's television and radio broadcast Sunday.
"No matter what the greatest tyrant in the world, the greatest terrorist in the world, George W. Bush says, we're here to tell you: Not hundreds, not thousands, but millions of the American people ... support your revolution," Belafonte told Chavez during the broadcast.
There is No Such Thing as a War on Terrorism
There is No Such Thing as a War on Terrorism
These temporal abysses also open up in the aftermath of great catastrophes. All that happened before Sept. 11, 2001, has become remote. It's been three years, according to the calendar, but psychologically it feels like no fewer than 10 - and that's true for the entire world.
Don't we all feel that the war in Afghanistan, which came only a little later, began decades ago? That might be because the Afghan war was the only truly direct consequence of the attacks on the twin towers and the Pentagon and was therefore in some way "contemporary" with those killings, unlike the outlandish, unjustified and illegal war in Iraq and its interminable and incomprehensible aftermath.
Ordinary citizens, even those who were once most fully convinced of the justice and necessity of the invasion of Iraq, know instinctively and naturally that the Iraq war and the terrorist attacks are two separate events. Political leaders too often forget about this "perceptive factor" among the citizenry, which is not necessarily based on reason. They forget, too, that very little can be done against it.
*********************************
What I personally am finding is the following:
Both Afghanistan and Iraq were preplanned attempts to portray to the world wide audience watching as something it is not.
Both were set ups to simply give the american government access to these oil rich lands; All credible intelligence was negated; some agents were threatened not to go public with information they were gathering. 9-11 was allowed to happen and Osama was protected then, and continues to be protected. The only Terrorism running rampid in the United States by the United states Government, to fulfull George Bush's agenda. Unfortunately they have corrupted other innocent countries, by setting up "secret" prisons, run probably like a concentration camp. There was no blunder of intelligence in Iraq, it was all a blatant lie. Everyone knows that now.
I do not care about the truth that I am stating because the FBI and CIA has denied, lied, confiscated valuable evidence and allowed tens of thousands of innocent people go to their deaths, in the name of greed. Any weapons of mass destruction Iraq ever had was because we gave it to them, and that was 2 decades ago. Sadaam used it for his own hideous crimes.
I find the conduct of the US government personally deplorable, the FBI has not served the american people, they have only covered up the facts, and the CIA eliminated anyone who got in the way of this convoluted and unilateral self imposed US Imperialism, whose sole objective is not what is best for the people of the United states, or any other country. Yes, they had their elections, but the violence continues, leaving the EU in the precarious position they are in now, and who will probably be the most competent to clean up the mess the US has caused. What a selfish and unfair burden to place on a group of countries who have worked very hard to pull together a great nation of solidarity between them. The more vulnerable countries have been taken advantage of, and I can honestly say I am NOT proud to be an american, as more and more is revealed each day.
We are not the land of the free, nor the home of the brave.
We yanked our young citizens off to a war under false pretenses, with out adequate prtection or supplies, and the costs have been paid far too high in blood from too many innocent people.
~kmw
These temporal abysses also open up in the aftermath of great catastrophes. All that happened before Sept. 11, 2001, has become remote. It's been three years, according to the calendar, but psychologically it feels like no fewer than 10 - and that's true for the entire world.
Don't we all feel that the war in Afghanistan, which came only a little later, began decades ago? That might be because the Afghan war was the only truly direct consequence of the attacks on the twin towers and the Pentagon and was therefore in some way "contemporary" with those killings, unlike the outlandish, unjustified and illegal war in Iraq and its interminable and incomprehensible aftermath.
Ordinary citizens, even those who were once most fully convinced of the justice and necessity of the invasion of Iraq, know instinctively and naturally that the Iraq war and the terrorist attacks are two separate events. Political leaders too often forget about this "perceptive factor" among the citizenry, which is not necessarily based on reason. They forget, too, that very little can be done against it.
*********************************
What I personally am finding is the following:
Both Afghanistan and Iraq were preplanned attempts to portray to the world wide audience watching as something it is not.
Both were set ups to simply give the american government access to these oil rich lands; All credible intelligence was negated; some agents were threatened not to go public with information they were gathering. 9-11 was allowed to happen and Osama was protected then, and continues to be protected. The only Terrorism running rampid in the United States by the United states Government, to fulfull George Bush's agenda. Unfortunately they have corrupted other innocent countries, by setting up "secret" prisons, run probably like a concentration camp. There was no blunder of intelligence in Iraq, it was all a blatant lie. Everyone knows that now.
I do not care about the truth that I am stating because the FBI and CIA has denied, lied, confiscated valuable evidence and allowed tens of thousands of innocent people go to their deaths, in the name of greed. Any weapons of mass destruction Iraq ever had was because we gave it to them, and that was 2 decades ago. Sadaam used it for his own hideous crimes.
I find the conduct of the US government personally deplorable, the FBI has not served the american people, they have only covered up the facts, and the CIA eliminated anyone who got in the way of this convoluted and unilateral self imposed US Imperialism, whose sole objective is not what is best for the people of the United states, or any other country. Yes, they had their elections, but the violence continues, leaving the EU in the precarious position they are in now, and who will probably be the most competent to clean up the mess the US has caused. What a selfish and unfair burden to place on a group of countries who have worked very hard to pull together a great nation of solidarity between them. The more vulnerable countries have been taken advantage of, and I can honestly say I am NOT proud to be an american, as more and more is revealed each day.
We are not the land of the free, nor the home of the brave.
We yanked our young citizens off to a war under false pretenses, with out adequate prtection or supplies, and the costs have been paid far too high in blood from too many innocent people.
~kmw
International War Crimes Tribunal
International War Crimes Tribunal
WAR CRIMESA Report on United States War Crimes Against Iraq to the Commission of Inquiry for the International War Crimes Tribunal
by Ramsey Clark and Others
Index of Crimes
The United States engaged in a pattern of conduct beginning in or before 1989 intended to lead Iraq into provocations justifying U.S. military action against Iraq and permanent U.S. military domination of the Gulf.
President Bush from August 2, 1990, intended and acted to prevent any interference with his plan to destroy Iraq economically and militarily.
President Bush ordered the destruction of facilities essential to civilian life and economic productivity throughout Iraq.
The United States intentionally bombed and destroyed civilian life, commercial and business districts, schools, hospitals, mosques, churches, shelters, residential areas, historical sites, private vehicles and civilian government offices.
The United States intentionally bombed indiscriminately throughout Iraq.
The United States intentionally bombed and destroyed Iraqi military personnel, used excessive force, killed soldiers seeking to surrender and in disorganized individual flight, often unarmed and far from any combat zones and randomly and wantonly killed Iraqi soldiers and destroyed materiel after the cease fire.
The United States used prohibited weapons capable of mass destruction and inflicting indiscriminate death and unnecessary suffering against both military and civilian targets.
The United States intentionally attacked installations in Iraq containing dangerous substances and forces.
President Bush ordered U.S. forces to invade Panama, resulting in the deaths of 1,000 to 4,000 Panamanians and the destruction of thousands of private dwellings, public buildings, and commercial structures.
President Bush obstructed justice and corrupted United Nations functions as a means of securing power to commit crimes against peace and war crimes.
President Bush usurped the Constitutional power of Congress as a means of securing power to commit crimes against peace, war crimes, and other high crimes.
The United States waged war on the environment.
President Bush encouraged and aided Shiite Muslims and Kurds to rebel against the government of Iraq causing fratricidal violence, emigration, exposure, hunger and sickness and thousands of deaths. After the rebellion failed, the U.S. invaded and occupied parts of Iraq without authority in order to increase division and hostility within Iraq.
President Bush intentionally deprived the Iraqi people of essential medicines, potable water, food, and other necessities.
The United States continued its assault on Iraq after the cease fire, invading and occupying areas at will.
The United States has violated and condoned violations of human rights, civil liberties and the U.S. Bill of Rights in the United States, in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and elsewhere to achieve its purpose of military domination.
The United States, having destroyed Iraq's economic base, demands reparations which will permanently impoverish Iraq and threaten its people with famine and epidemic.
President Bush systematically manipulated, controlled, directed, misinformed and restricted press and media coverage to obtain constant support in the media for his military and political goals.
The United States has by force secured a permanent military presence in the Gulf, the control of its oil resources and geopolitical domination of the Arabian Peninsula and Gulf region.
WAR CRIMESA Report on United States War Crimes Against Iraq to the Commission of Inquiry for the International War Crimes Tribunal
by Ramsey Clark and Others
Index of Crimes
The United States engaged in a pattern of conduct beginning in or before 1989 intended to lead Iraq into provocations justifying U.S. military action against Iraq and permanent U.S. military domination of the Gulf.
President Bush from August 2, 1990, intended and acted to prevent any interference with his plan to destroy Iraq economically and militarily.
President Bush ordered the destruction of facilities essential to civilian life and economic productivity throughout Iraq.
The United States intentionally bombed and destroyed civilian life, commercial and business districts, schools, hospitals, mosques, churches, shelters, residential areas, historical sites, private vehicles and civilian government offices.
The United States intentionally bombed indiscriminately throughout Iraq.
The United States intentionally bombed and destroyed Iraqi military personnel, used excessive force, killed soldiers seeking to surrender and in disorganized individual flight, often unarmed and far from any combat zones and randomly and wantonly killed Iraqi soldiers and destroyed materiel after the cease fire.
The United States used prohibited weapons capable of mass destruction and inflicting indiscriminate death and unnecessary suffering against both military and civilian targets.
The United States intentionally attacked installations in Iraq containing dangerous substances and forces.
President Bush ordered U.S. forces to invade Panama, resulting in the deaths of 1,000 to 4,000 Panamanians and the destruction of thousands of private dwellings, public buildings, and commercial structures.
President Bush obstructed justice and corrupted United Nations functions as a means of securing power to commit crimes against peace and war crimes.
President Bush usurped the Constitutional power of Congress as a means of securing power to commit crimes against peace, war crimes, and other high crimes.
The United States waged war on the environment.
President Bush encouraged and aided Shiite Muslims and Kurds to rebel against the government of Iraq causing fratricidal violence, emigration, exposure, hunger and sickness and thousands of deaths. After the rebellion failed, the U.S. invaded and occupied parts of Iraq without authority in order to increase division and hostility within Iraq.
President Bush intentionally deprived the Iraqi people of essential medicines, potable water, food, and other necessities.
The United States continued its assault on Iraq after the cease fire, invading and occupying areas at will.
The United States has violated and condoned violations of human rights, civil liberties and the U.S. Bill of Rights in the United States, in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and elsewhere to achieve its purpose of military domination.
The United States, having destroyed Iraq's economic base, demands reparations which will permanently impoverish Iraq and threaten its people with famine and epidemic.
President Bush systematically manipulated, controlled, directed, misinformed and restricted press and media coverage to obtain constant support in the media for his military and political goals.
The United States has by force secured a permanent military presence in the Gulf, the control of its oil resources and geopolitical domination of the Arabian Peninsula and Gulf region.
German TV airs documentary charging American war crimes in Afghanistan US State Department denounces broadcast
German TV airs documentary charging American war crimes in Afghanistan US State Department denounces broadcast
God Bless Germany
The US State Department has reacted angrily to the showing of a documentary on German television alleging that US soldiers were involved in war crimes in Afghanistan. The film, Massacre in Afghanistan—Did the Americans Look On?, was produced by Irish filmmaker Jamie Doran. It was shown December 18 on one of the main German public channels—ARD.
The 45-minute documentary had previously been shown by the British Channel 5 and the Italian station RAI.
Prior to the German broadcast, a spokesman for the US State Department, Larry Schwartz, declared: “It is a mystery to us why a respected television channel is showing a documentary in which the facts are completely wrong and which unfairly depicts the US mission in Afghanistan.”
God Bless Germany
The US State Department has reacted angrily to the showing of a documentary on German television alleging that US soldiers were involved in war crimes in Afghanistan. The film, Massacre in Afghanistan—Did the Americans Look On?, was produced by Irish filmmaker Jamie Doran. It was shown December 18 on one of the main German public channels—ARD.
The 45-minute documentary had previously been shown by the British Channel 5 and the Italian station RAI.
Prior to the German broadcast, a spokesman for the US State Department, Larry Schwartz, declared: “It is a mystery to us why a respected television channel is showing a documentary in which the facts are completely wrong and which unfairly depicts the US mission in Afghanistan.”
International War Crimes Tribunal
International War Crimes Tribunal
Initial Complaint
Charging
George Bush, J. Danforth Quayle, James Baker, Richard Cheney, William Webster, Colin Powell, Norman Schwarzkopf and Others to be named
With
Crimes Against Peace, War Crimes, Crimes AgainstHumanity and Other Criminal Acts and High Crimes inViolation of the Charter of the United Nations,International Law, the Constitution of the United Statesand Laws made in Pursuance Thereof.
Initial Complaint
Charging
George Bush, J. Danforth Quayle, James Baker, Richard Cheney, William Webster, Colin Powell, Norman Schwarzkopf and Others to be named
With
Crimes Against Peace, War Crimes, Crimes AgainstHumanity and Other Criminal Acts and High Crimes inViolation of the Charter of the United Nations,International Law, the Constitution of the United Statesand Laws made in Pursuance Thereof.
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