Lloyd noted the following AP article with the comment that "Guantanamo becomes less a location and more a floating concept." This is from "U.S. Jails Journalist in Iraq:"
The U.S. military in Iraq has imprisoned an Associated Press photographer for five months, accusing him of being a security threat but never filing charges or permitting a public hearing.
Bilal Hussein, 35, an Iraqi citizen, was being held for "imperative reasons of security" under United Nations resolutions, according to military officials. Hussein, 35, was detained April 12.
Martha and Brad both noted Sudarsan Raghavan "Violence Changes Fortunes Of Storied Baghdad Street" (Washington Post):
A silence has fallen upon Mutanabi Street.
In the buttery sunlight, faded billboards hang from old buildings. Iron gates seal entrances to bookstores and stationery shops. On this Friday, like the past 13 Fridays, the violence has taken its toll. There is not a customer around, only ghosts.
A silence has fallen upon Mutanabi Street.
Perched on a red chair outside a closet-sized bookshop, the only one open, Naim al-Shatri is nearly in tears. Short, with thin gray hair and dark, brooding eyes, his voice is grim. This is normally his busiest day, but he hasn't had a single sale. A curfew is approaching.
Soon, his sobs break the stillness. "Is this Iraq?" he asked no one in particular, pointing at the gritty, trash-covered street as the scent of rotting paper and sewage mingled in the air.
You may remember a protest a protest on a Saturday last month when what the press dubbed "intellectuals" gathered in opposition of the so-called 'crackdown' to note how it was destroying the way of life in the city. (With the curfews and the bans on traffic, etc.) These are the effects they were talking about and this was before the plans for the waterless moat around Baghdad.
And that's it for this morning. Richard A. Oppel has an article in the New York Times. It should be readable at the very least. But when I read (or started to read) the other article (noted in the first entry), I ended up spending over an hour on the phone. That's all the time I feel like putting into the Times on a day when they run something that (forget the Post's refuting of) should have raised enough red flags as it worked its way through the process that it didn't make it into the paper as is. That it didn't is really sad and makes you question the knowledge base at the Times or the proces or both. It was too heavy on "Something Wonderful" and short on reality and should have raised suspicions. ("Something Wonderful" written by Rogers & Hart.)
The e-mail address for this site is common_ills@yahoo.com.
the washington post
sudarsan raghavan
Monday, September 18, 2006
NYT: Caught in the spin
Khalid al-Ansary and Ali Adeeb have an article in the New York Times which recounts some of yesterday's violence (violence already noted in last night's "And the war drags on") and also states that 25 of 31 tribes in Al Anbar have formed an agreement of some kind. What kind? Who knows? Maybe someone got paid off to make a statement?
Congratulations to the two writers for finally getting their own byline. But the article defies disbelief. The spokesperson doesn't seem to be describing reality so much as saying what the US military would want people to believe.
Pay off, deal to leave or just blowing hot air is the consensus on his statements from everyone I spoke to this morning (the reason this entry is started so late) that has served in the province or reported from it. No one's buying it.
I'm not quoting from the article or even noting's it's title. When I read it this morning, I reached for the phone. Again, congratulations on the long deserved byline without any American listed (see Friday's entry for Dexy's talk) but I have no faith in that article.
Martha notes Amit R. Paley's "Blasts in Kirkuk Kill 26; Police Bureau Destroyed" (Washington Post):
A wave of seven suicide car bombs and explosions rocked the oil-rich city of Kirkuk on Sunday, killing at least 26 people and wounding 85 others, police said.
The restive northern city -- considered a likely flash point for sectarian violence because of its combustible mix of Kurds, Arabs and Turkmens -- declared a state of emergency and hastily put up dozens of checkpoints to thwart further attacks, police Maj. Jalal Mahmood Aras said.
And, most importantly:
Also on Sunday, tribal leaders in Anbar province denied news reports that local chieftains had gathered recently and agreed to join forces to fight al-Qaeda.
"All the talk and rumors that you may hear about alliances or new initiatives to wipe out al-Qaeda by the tribes in Anbar is all pure nonsense," Sheik Faraj Khalid Essawi said. "We wish that we could build a strong tribal alliance against al-Qaeda to defeat them and reestablish security in our area and rebuild the dignity and the stature of the tribal sheiks. But frankly, we are unable to stand up to or to confront al-Qaeda because even the American army itself has not succeed in defeating it."
The thing being denied is what the Times is reporting. We won't note it. It makes no sense. Even without the Post's denial. It's a pay off, it's a deal or it's hot air. It's not reality. You have to wonder how it became the focus for an article in the New York Times because red flags went up for me just reading it. Why they didn't for anyone at the Times is a question to ponder. But everyone I spoke to snorted or laughed at the article the Times runs before I could finish reading the first paragraph to them.
The e-mail address for this site is common_ills@yahoo.com.
the new york times
khalid al-ansary
ali adeeb
the washington post
amit r. paley
Congratulations to the two writers for finally getting their own byline. But the article defies disbelief. The spokesperson doesn't seem to be describing reality so much as saying what the US military would want people to believe.
Pay off, deal to leave or just blowing hot air is the consensus on his statements from everyone I spoke to this morning (the reason this entry is started so late) that has served in the province or reported from it. No one's buying it.
I'm not quoting from the article or even noting's it's title. When I read it this morning, I reached for the phone. Again, congratulations on the long deserved byline without any American listed (see Friday's entry for Dexy's talk) but I have no faith in that article.
Martha notes Amit R. Paley's "Blasts in Kirkuk Kill 26; Police Bureau Destroyed" (Washington Post):
A wave of seven suicide car bombs and explosions rocked the oil-rich city of Kirkuk on Sunday, killing at least 26 people and wounding 85 others, police said.
The restive northern city -- considered a likely flash point for sectarian violence because of its combustible mix of Kurds, Arabs and Turkmens -- declared a state of emergency and hastily put up dozens of checkpoints to thwart further attacks, police Maj. Jalal Mahmood Aras said.
And, most importantly:
Also on Sunday, tribal leaders in Anbar province denied news reports that local chieftains had gathered recently and agreed to join forces to fight al-Qaeda.
"All the talk and rumors that you may hear about alliances or new initiatives to wipe out al-Qaeda by the tribes in Anbar is all pure nonsense," Sheik Faraj Khalid Essawi said. "We wish that we could build a strong tribal alliance against al-Qaeda to defeat them and reestablish security in our area and rebuild the dignity and the stature of the tribal sheiks. But frankly, we are unable to stand up to or to confront al-Qaeda because even the American army itself has not succeed in defeating it."
The thing being denied is what the Times is reporting. We won't note it. It makes no sense. Even without the Post's denial. It's a pay off, it's a deal or it's hot air. It's not reality. You have to wonder how it became the focus for an article in the New York Times because red flags went up for me just reading it. Why they didn't for anyone at the Times is a question to ponder. But everyone I spoke to snorted or laughed at the article the Times runs before I could finish reading the first paragraph to them.
The e-mail address for this site is common_ills@yahoo.com.
the new york times
khalid al-ansary
ali adeeb
the washington post
amit r. paley
Sunday, September 17, 2006
And the war drags on . . .
Join United for Peace & Justice
in Raising the Political Costs of the War
Sept. 5-21: Camp Democracy
Sept. 19: Stand Up to Bush in NYC -- March and Rally
Sept. 21-28: Declaration of Peace -- A Week of Nonviolent Action, Including Civil Disobedience
Ongoing: Voters For Peace, Elections Clearinghouse and Candidate Bird-Dogging
More to come ...
The above is from United for Peace & Justice and Owen noted it and that the September 19th UN march is on (and it starts at nine a.m.). There are events going on and events that have been going on. John Nichols, noted by Heath, writes of an event in Wisconsin and also notes what was planned for today (Sunday) at Camp Democracy in "Camp Democracy and the Genius of Impeachment" (The Online Beat, The Nation):
More than 5,000 people crowded the Sauk County Fairgrounds in Baraboo, Wisconsin, for Fighting Bob Fest, one of the largest gatherings of progressives in the nation. The annual event, which is pulled together by volunteers on a minimal budget, now attracts speakers such as U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, "Democracy Now" host Amy Goodman and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The success of Bob Fest serves as a reminder that there is a yearning in America for the sort of community and discourse that was once seen on the Chautauqua circuit, which in the first years of the twentieth century drew William Jennings Bryan, Jane Addams, W.E.B. DuBois and Robert M. "Fighting Bob" La Follette to cities and towns across the country. In those days, as today, the speaker circuit served as a needed alternative to a media that often failed to provide a full and honest portrait of the issues and ideas that matter most.
There are events going on all over the United States and outside. If there's not something in your area you can create your own. September 21st is International Peace Day. NOW is one of the organizations participating in Camp Democracy and they offer a list of some activities for those unable to travel or who don't have activites in their area (or are unaware of them):
Host a Peace Party in your home. Purchase the DVD and invite friends to watch "Sir, No Sir" or "Iraq for Sale: the War Profiteers"
Add your voice to the blogosphere and share your voice and why you believe peace is a feminist issue. Create your own blog or comment on your favorite blog.
Hold candlelight vigils in your community. Ask activists to bring flashlights and organize people into the shape of a Peace symbol or the word Peace. If possible, select a location that is visible from above (e.g., office buildings, hillside etc.)
Go door-to-door in your community and talk about the Peace Vote.
Plan visibility events leading up to elections calling for a Vote for Peace.
Activities continue to be added to the schedule so check back frequently.
Send us stories and photos about your peace events so we can share them on the website.
I know Rebecca's going to a do a post this week on how some of the students who read her site are creating their own events so also look for that. NOW and CODEPINK are joint sponsoring activities at Camp Democracy for September 20th. Why that day? It's Women for Peace Day and the day Troops Home Fast officially ends (though some may continue a fast on their own). It is not, however, any longer the day the Camp Democracy closes -- they've announced they will be open through October 1st. They are free and open to the public. And the information above was noted by Molly, George, Carl, Charlie, Lewis and Dawn. (Due to the late start this evening, Jim, Dona, Ty, Jess and Ava are going through the e-mails for me -- thank you to them for that -- and we've lumped the highlights by the above together.)
And Brenda notes that wherever anyone is (in the United States), they can take part in this action, from CODEPINK:
Declaration of Peace!
We urge you to sign The Declaration of Peace, a pledge to take action against the war during September 21-28 if a peace plan is not established by that time. Declaration signers will take part in nonviolent action, marches, rallies, demonstrations, interfaith services, candlelight vigils and other creative ways to declare peace at the US Capitol and in cities across the US. Click here to sign the Declaration and learn more.
Why bother? (No, I can't imagine anyone in this community asking that question either, but visitors do drop by.)
How about because Reuters reports 47 corpses were discovered in Baghdad on Saturday? Also on Saturday, AP reports, at least ten people died from various car bombs. Where? In Baghdad where two people were also shot dead. In Baghdad, the 'crackdown' capital. The 'crackdown' that's worked so well, the plan now is to create a waterless moat around the city. Credit to AP for adding "ditch" to their reporting and not simply repeating the more euphamistic "trenches." When you intend to reduce the capital to 28 entry-points, you're not digging trenches, you're creating a waterless moat or ditch.
The government reports today that "One Sailor assigned to 1st Marine Logistics Group died September 16 [Saturday] from wounds sustained by enemy action while operating Al Anbar Province." Al Anbar, which military intelligence says is lost. No hearts and minds to be won. AP notes that in Ramadi Saturday seven Iraqi police officers were killed by bombs.
Back to Baghdad, Xinhau notes that 20 corpses were discovered on Sunday. Reuters reports that car bombs in Baghdad wounded two Iraqi soldiers, one civilian and two police officers. Elsewhere in Iraq today, Reuters reports 23 dead and 23 wounded from five bombs in Kirkuk, five dead and twenty-three wounded in Falluja from bombings and mortars, two police officers shot dead in Taji, and two men shot dead in Mosul and one wounded from a roadside bomb.
Check my math, but counting corpses, that's 52 reported dead for Sunday -- and that's just the deaths that got covered. (And AFP's count on Kirkuk is 25 dead which would raise the total reported deaths to 54.)
They're just there to try and make the people free,
But the way that they're doing it, it don't seem like that to me.
Just more blood-letting and misery and tears
That this poor country's known for the last twenty years,
And the war drags on.
-- words and lyrics by Mick Softly (available on Donovan's Fairytale)
Last Sunday, the American military fatality count in Iraq stood at 2668. Right now? 2684. Sixteen in seven days. Averages out to more than two a day. What are you doing this week to end the war?
Now something we weren't able to address at The Third Estate Sunday Review, from Tom Hayden's "Withdraw from Iraq Or Carve It Up?" (Huffington Post via Common Dreams):
The big new buzz on Capitol Hill is partitioning Iraq into three ethnic enclaves, the thesis of a new book by Peter Galbraith who participating in carving up the Balkans a decade ago and who is an official consultant to the Kurdish community seeking independence from Iraq.
So far presidential candidate Sen. Joseph Biden and, surprisingly, Rep. Maxine Waters, leader of the House Out of Iraq Caucus, are publicly seeking support for carving Iraq into a northern Kurdistan, a southern Shiite autonomous zone, and a western Sunni region.
So captivated are our decision-makers with proposals to carve up iraq that this issue of bringing our troops home is all but disappearing from official discourse.
Perhaps it is only an accident, but the partition proposal has diverted attention to the Democratic Party's recent consensus in favor of setting deadlines either for withdrawal [Feingold, Kerry] or beginning to withdraw [Reid, Levin, Clinton]. It has given Republican consgressman Christopher Shays, a Democratic target in the November elections, the opportunity to chair C-SPAN forums on how the West should split up Iraq instead of whether he really favors withdrawing American troops.
Galbraith, Les Gelb and other partitionists have a substantive case in addition to the political subtext. Galbraith claims, with considerable evidence, that Iraq is already divided by civil war, and that it cannot be put back together. He is less clear as to whether this results from a deliberate neo-conservative strategy or merely the accidental outcome of a failed occupation.
The partition discussion downplays the fact that it is a menu for continued US war against the Iraq insurgency which spans Sunni nationalists and many Shiite Arabs, like the followers of Moktada al-Sadr, among the most popular leaders in Iraq today. As in Northern Ireland, the occupiers are saying they cannot leave because the natives will kill each other, the perfect formula for permanent American deaths.
Puppet of the occupation Nouri al-Maliki keeps making calls for everyone to come together but he's not talking about the move towards a federation (as opposed to a nation), he's just speaking of the violence. The puppet doesn't speak for the people. How much the parliament does is open to debate. But where in this illegal war, where in the laughable talk of 'democracy,' was it promoted that the US would decide the fate of the country after Saddam Hussein was deposed?
The Bully Boy does his "safer but not safe" and presents the argument that is basically, "Woops! US got into Iraq for the wrong reason but has to stay there now for the same reason -- after the mess I created" and arguments for splitting up the country are presented as an 'alternative'? (As Greg Palast documents in Armed Madhouse, that was part of the original plan.)
Democracy means self-determination, not a road imposed from outside. Read Hayden's article and the points he's making about how various ethnic groups would have to relocate if the country splintered. Are those people's voices being heard? Whose voice is getting heard?
(And as Robert Fisk has noted, the problems in Iraq, long term, were created years ago, not by self-determination on the part of Iraqis but by outsiders drawing up the country. Nothing's changed.)
So get active this week. Make yourself heard. Take part in planned activites or create your own.
And activites are not just going on in the United States. Pru notes "Mobilising to make Manchester demo massive" (Great Britain's Socialist Worker):
Activists around Britain hit the streets last weekend to make sure there is the biggest possible turnout for the Time To Go demonstration in Manchester on 23 September.
In many places, people dressed up as Tony Blair and organised street theatre. In Manchester, a Stop the War activist dressed up as the Grim Reaper with a giant Blair mask and handed out leaflets.
Many areas are holding public meetings to build for the demo. Islington in north London had their biggest Stop the War meeting in years. Nearly 100 people came to hear Jeremy Corbyn MP, Moazzam Begg and others.
An activist said, "There was a very young, very mixed audience. At least two thirds of those at the meeting were new to the movement."
In Stockport, near Manchester, Alex Naysmith helped to organise their first Stop the War public meeting last week. He told Socialist Worker that around 45 people came to the meeting. "It was really good to see new people coming along and getting involved in organising for Manchester," he said.
Dave Prentis, the general secretary of the Unison union, has mailed all branch secretaries to tell them that Unison is supporting the demo and to ask them to inform members and encourage them to attend the demo.
The Stop the War Coalition has also organised a Time For Change alternative conference on Sunday 24 September to bring activists together after the protest.
It will include speakers such as George Galloway MP, Jeremy Corbyn MP, Lindsey German, Moazzam Begg, Walter Wolfgang, Tariq Ali and many others. It is at Roscoe Building, University of Manchester, Brunswick Street from 10am to 6pm.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
© Copyright Socialist Worker (unless otherwise stated). You may republish if you include an active link to the original and leave this notice in place.
If you found this article useful please help us maintain SW by supporting our » appeal.
The e-mail address for this site is common_ills@yahoo.com.
and the war drags on
donovan
iraq
ann wright
troops home fast
the third estate sunday review
tom hayden
the socialist worker
john nichols
sex and politics and screeds and attitude
now
codepink
troops home fast
camp democracy
in Raising the Political Costs of the War
Sept. 5-21: Camp Democracy
Sept. 19: Stand Up to Bush in NYC -- March and Rally
Sept. 21-28: Declaration of Peace -- A Week of Nonviolent Action, Including Civil Disobedience
Ongoing: Voters For Peace, Elections Clearinghouse and Candidate Bird-Dogging
More to come ...
The above is from United for Peace & Justice and Owen noted it and that the September 19th UN march is on (and it starts at nine a.m.). There are events going on and events that have been going on. John Nichols, noted by Heath, writes of an event in Wisconsin and also notes what was planned for today (Sunday) at Camp Democracy in "Camp Democracy and the Genius of Impeachment" (The Online Beat, The Nation):
More than 5,000 people crowded the Sauk County Fairgrounds in Baraboo, Wisconsin, for Fighting Bob Fest, one of the largest gatherings of progressives in the nation. The annual event, which is pulled together by volunteers on a minimal budget, now attracts speakers such as U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, "Democracy Now" host Amy Goodman and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The success of Bob Fest serves as a reminder that there is a yearning in America for the sort of community and discourse that was once seen on the Chautauqua circuit, which in the first years of the twentieth century drew William Jennings Bryan, Jane Addams, W.E.B. DuBois and Robert M. "Fighting Bob" La Follette to cities and towns across the country. In those days, as today, the speaker circuit served as a needed alternative to a media that often failed to provide a full and honest portrait of the issues and ideas that matter most.
There are events going on all over the United States and outside. If there's not something in your area you can create your own. September 21st is International Peace Day. NOW is one of the organizations participating in Camp Democracy and they offer a list of some activities for those unable to travel or who don't have activites in their area (or are unaware of them):
Host a Peace Party in your home. Purchase the DVD and invite friends to watch "Sir, No Sir" or "Iraq for Sale: the War Profiteers"
Add your voice to the blogosphere and share your voice and why you believe peace is a feminist issue. Create your own blog or comment on your favorite blog.
Hold candlelight vigils in your community. Ask activists to bring flashlights and organize people into the shape of a Peace symbol or the word Peace. If possible, select a location that is visible from above (e.g., office buildings, hillside etc.)
Go door-to-door in your community and talk about the Peace Vote.
Plan visibility events leading up to elections calling for a Vote for Peace.
Activities continue to be added to the schedule so check back frequently.
Send us stories and photos about your peace events so we can share them on the website.
I know Rebecca's going to a do a post this week on how some of the students who read her site are creating their own events so also look for that. NOW and CODEPINK are joint sponsoring activities at Camp Democracy for September 20th. Why that day? It's Women for Peace Day and the day Troops Home Fast officially ends (though some may continue a fast on their own). It is not, however, any longer the day the Camp Democracy closes -- they've announced they will be open through October 1st. They are free and open to the public. And the information above was noted by Molly, George, Carl, Charlie, Lewis and Dawn. (Due to the late start this evening, Jim, Dona, Ty, Jess and Ava are going through the e-mails for me -- thank you to them for that -- and we've lumped the highlights by the above together.)
And Brenda notes that wherever anyone is (in the United States), they can take part in this action, from CODEPINK:
Declaration of Peace!
We urge you to sign The Declaration of Peace, a pledge to take action against the war during September 21-28 if a peace plan is not established by that time. Declaration signers will take part in nonviolent action, marches, rallies, demonstrations, interfaith services, candlelight vigils and other creative ways to declare peace at the US Capitol and in cities across the US. Click here to sign the Declaration and learn more.
Why bother? (No, I can't imagine anyone in this community asking that question either, but visitors do drop by.)
How about because Reuters reports 47 corpses were discovered in Baghdad on Saturday? Also on Saturday, AP reports, at least ten people died from various car bombs. Where? In Baghdad where two people were also shot dead. In Baghdad, the 'crackdown' capital. The 'crackdown' that's worked so well, the plan now is to create a waterless moat around the city. Credit to AP for adding "ditch" to their reporting and not simply repeating the more euphamistic "trenches." When you intend to reduce the capital to 28 entry-points, you're not digging trenches, you're creating a waterless moat or ditch.
The government reports today that "One Sailor assigned to 1st Marine Logistics Group died September 16 [Saturday] from wounds sustained by enemy action while operating Al Anbar Province." Al Anbar, which military intelligence says is lost. No hearts and minds to be won. AP notes that in Ramadi Saturday seven Iraqi police officers were killed by bombs.
Back to Baghdad, Xinhau notes that 20 corpses were discovered on Sunday. Reuters reports that car bombs in Baghdad wounded two Iraqi soldiers, one civilian and two police officers. Elsewhere in Iraq today, Reuters reports 23 dead and 23 wounded from five bombs in Kirkuk, five dead and twenty-three wounded in Falluja from bombings and mortars, two police officers shot dead in Taji, and two men shot dead in Mosul and one wounded from a roadside bomb.
Check my math, but counting corpses, that's 52 reported dead for Sunday -- and that's just the deaths that got covered. (And AFP's count on Kirkuk is 25 dead which would raise the total reported deaths to 54.)
They're just there to try and make the people free,
But the way that they're doing it, it don't seem like that to me.
Just more blood-letting and misery and tears
That this poor country's known for the last twenty years,
And the war drags on.
-- words and lyrics by Mick Softly (available on Donovan's Fairytale)
Last Sunday, the American military fatality count in Iraq stood at 2668. Right now? 2684. Sixteen in seven days. Averages out to more than two a day. What are you doing this week to end the war?
Now something we weren't able to address at The Third Estate Sunday Review, from Tom Hayden's "Withdraw from Iraq Or Carve It Up?" (Huffington Post via Common Dreams):
The big new buzz on Capitol Hill is partitioning Iraq into three ethnic enclaves, the thesis of a new book by Peter Galbraith who participating in carving up the Balkans a decade ago and who is an official consultant to the Kurdish community seeking independence from Iraq.
So far presidential candidate Sen. Joseph Biden and, surprisingly, Rep. Maxine Waters, leader of the House Out of Iraq Caucus, are publicly seeking support for carving Iraq into a northern Kurdistan, a southern Shiite autonomous zone, and a western Sunni region.
So captivated are our decision-makers with proposals to carve up iraq that this issue of bringing our troops home is all but disappearing from official discourse.
Perhaps it is only an accident, but the partition proposal has diverted attention to the Democratic Party's recent consensus in favor of setting deadlines either for withdrawal [Feingold, Kerry] or beginning to withdraw [Reid, Levin, Clinton]. It has given Republican consgressman Christopher Shays, a Democratic target in the November elections, the opportunity to chair C-SPAN forums on how the West should split up Iraq instead of whether he really favors withdrawing American troops.
Galbraith, Les Gelb and other partitionists have a substantive case in addition to the political subtext. Galbraith claims, with considerable evidence, that Iraq is already divided by civil war, and that it cannot be put back together. He is less clear as to whether this results from a deliberate neo-conservative strategy or merely the accidental outcome of a failed occupation.
The partition discussion downplays the fact that it is a menu for continued US war against the Iraq insurgency which spans Sunni nationalists and many Shiite Arabs, like the followers of Moktada al-Sadr, among the most popular leaders in Iraq today. As in Northern Ireland, the occupiers are saying they cannot leave because the natives will kill each other, the perfect formula for permanent American deaths.
Puppet of the occupation Nouri al-Maliki keeps making calls for everyone to come together but he's not talking about the move towards a federation (as opposed to a nation), he's just speaking of the violence. The puppet doesn't speak for the people. How much the parliament does is open to debate. But where in this illegal war, where in the laughable talk of 'democracy,' was it promoted that the US would decide the fate of the country after Saddam Hussein was deposed?
The Bully Boy does his "safer but not safe" and presents the argument that is basically, "Woops! US got into Iraq for the wrong reason but has to stay there now for the same reason -- after the mess I created" and arguments for splitting up the country are presented as an 'alternative'? (As Greg Palast documents in Armed Madhouse, that was part of the original plan.)
Democracy means self-determination, not a road imposed from outside. Read Hayden's article and the points he's making about how various ethnic groups would have to relocate if the country splintered. Are those people's voices being heard? Whose voice is getting heard?
(And as Robert Fisk has noted, the problems in Iraq, long term, were created years ago, not by self-determination on the part of Iraqis but by outsiders drawing up the country. Nothing's changed.)
So get active this week. Make yourself heard. Take part in planned activites or create your own.
And activites are not just going on in the United States. Pru notes "Mobilising to make Manchester demo massive" (Great Britain's Socialist Worker):
Activists around Britain hit the streets last weekend to make sure there is the biggest possible turnout for the Time To Go demonstration in Manchester on 23 September.
In many places, people dressed up as Tony Blair and organised street theatre. In Manchester, a Stop the War activist dressed up as the Grim Reaper with a giant Blair mask and handed out leaflets.
Many areas are holding public meetings to build for the demo. Islington in north London had their biggest Stop the War meeting in years. Nearly 100 people came to hear Jeremy Corbyn MP, Moazzam Begg and others.
An activist said, "There was a very young, very mixed audience. At least two thirds of those at the meeting were new to the movement."
In Stockport, near Manchester, Alex Naysmith helped to organise their first Stop the War public meeting last week. He told Socialist Worker that around 45 people came to the meeting. "It was really good to see new people coming along and getting involved in organising for Manchester," he said.
Dave Prentis, the general secretary of the Unison union, has mailed all branch secretaries to tell them that Unison is supporting the demo and to ask them to inform members and encourage them to attend the demo.
The Stop the War Coalition has also organised a Time For Change alternative conference on Sunday 24 September to bring activists together after the protest.
It will include speakers such as George Galloway MP, Jeremy Corbyn MP, Lindsey German, Moazzam Begg, Walter Wolfgang, Tariq Ali and many others. It is at Roscoe Building, University of Manchester, Brunswick Street from 10am to 6pm.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
© Copyright Socialist Worker (unless otherwise stated). You may republish if you include an active link to the original and leave this notice in place.
If you found this article useful please help us maintain SW by supporting our » appeal.
The e-mail address for this site is common_ills@yahoo.com.
and the war drags on
donovan
iraq
ann wright
troops home fast
the third estate sunday review
tom hayden
the socialist worker
john nichols
sex and politics and screeds and attitude
now
codepink
troops home fast
camp democracy
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