Just two items from today's "Democracy Now" with Amy Goodman:"U.S. Embassy Memo Reveals Dire Situation in Baghdad
"An internal memo from the US embassy in Baghdad leaked to the Washington Post reveals that the situation in the Iraqi capital is far more dire than portrayed by the Bush administration. The memo mentions that one Arab newspaper editor is preparing an extensive study of how ethnic cleansing is now occurring in almost every Iraqi province. One Iraqi employee of the embassy said that he attends a funeral every evening. Neighborhoods in Baghdad are now mostly controlled by militias. Islamic groups are enforcing strict social codes. Women are increasingly being pressured to cover their faces. It is also now considered dangerous for men and children to wear shorts outside. Iraqis working in the U.S. embassy must now keep their place of work a secret even from their own family because anti-American sentiment is so high. For the past six months the embassy has been unable to call Iraqi workers at home or use them as translators for on-camera press events for their own safety. The memo from the U.S. embassy was sent to Washington last week ahead of President Bush’s visit to Baghdad.
"U.S. Launches Largest Offensive of Afghan War
"In Afghanistan, the U.S. military has launched its largest offensive since the fall of the Taliban in late 2001. More than ten thousand troops are spreading out over four southern provinces to fight the Taliban. Over the past month more than five hundred people have died in Afghanistan in some of the heaviest fighting of the war. Meanwhile the Washington Post is reporting the U.S. military has carried out 340 air strikes in Afghanistan over the past three months. That’s more than double the number of air strikes conducted in Iraq during the same period."
5 comments:
Too bad nobody predicted back in 2003 that going into Iraq without a plan would inevitably result in sectarian civil war...
Wait a minute. Hey, I predicted that exact thing; I bet you did too, as well as most of the civilized world, who begged our government not to do this foolish thing.
I remember in February of 2003, taking a friend of mine over to a map of the world that was on the wall in the office I used to work at in Everett, Washington, and pointing out to him the countries of Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.
"Isn't that neat? There's the future United Republic of Talibanistan. And Brought to you by Your Own Government!"
The idea of we broke it, we got to fix it is long past. We did break it, but there's been absolutely no effort to fix anything. We have a responsibility, at this point, to pull completely out, lock, stock, and barrel, and no Nixonian-Cambodian-style air war either. At long last it might be time to let the people there sort out their politics, sectarian or otherwise.
There is nothing we can do to fix. We have rendered Iraq FUBAR.
Yeah, but if we pull out now, there'll be a civil war ... when will the civil war start ... when did it start ... the minute saddam (yes evil bad saddam) was no longer around to brutally control things. Their civil war had been falsely contained for decades & then we came along & gave them the chance to do what they'd been supressing, along with a little help from islamic extremists we conveniently drew into their land. jeez, help like ours, no one needs.
and now the good news that the taliban doesn't feel vanquished by the mighty forces of freedom? holy hell, is there nothing this administration is capable of doing with any degree of competence (cutting taxes for the rich & spying on citizens doesn't count)! D.K.
hey, dk...
I followed up back over at Baja C with my latest post...
Suffice it to say, we got to get the knotheads out of power in Washington, and f*ck all in Iraq. How in the world did the world muddle along without the shining white knights in cowboy gear before the 20th century?
I've never advocated American isolationism; but now it seems to be a better course, at least for the short term. If we could just come back home, deal with our own problems! I'm pretty sure the entire planet would be happier, and happier with us.
Shit.
hi, meldonna! I cruised by your blog & love your no-nonsense style, but you don't take anonymous comments (sigh). "Prime Directive" made me think of the physician's "first, do no harm." maybe we can rethink concept of isolationism back to where it prevents meddling in other countries, but still allows us to be fully involved in the world. One thing's for sure, we have enough problems right here to keep us busy til hell freezes over (which with global warming may be forever). D.K.
Hey, DK...
Sorry about the no annoymous thing, but I started blocking when I got my first spam...I figure I put up with enough of that in email. Feel free to email me if you need to comment on my meanderings!
As of my suggestions of isolationism? That's simple. We just need to call our dogs home, and re-assess. Wouldn't hurt if we'd quit undermining the U.N., the body with the actual authourity over multinational disputes.
I just refuse to quietly with my tax dollars fund the death of civil rights here, there, or anywhere...much less the literal deaths of my fellow countrymen, and countless others. I don't believe in collateral damage.
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