Who Devastated Iraq?? Nicole Gelinas speaks of the murder in Iraq of two American Baptists who went into danger to help Iraqis replace devastated water-treatment plants. She says, "The Elliotts were disaster-recovery experts. And after decades of Saddam's brutality, Iraq was a disaster." Oh, Saddam's brutality made Iraq a disaster? Two wars and a decade and more of stringent sanctions imposed by the United States had nothing to do with Iraq's being a disaster? That is fatuous, evasive, disgraceful, rightwing scapegoating. Worse, she can't even expect anyone to believe it. So why would she say it, and make herself look like a fool and liar? Because, you see, she is duly ashamed of the United States' destructive role in the Middle East, but cannot bring herself to admit it.
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Why is the Radical Right so utterly dishonest about the disaster the U.S. inflicted upon Iraq and, indeed, continues to inflict? Wasn't 'teaching our enemies a lesson' the whole point of this campaign of terror against Iraq? Wasn't proving that we could devastate anyone who would even think of attacking us the very reason for two wars and 12 years of blockade? The Radical Right should be ecstatic in pointing out the nitemare we have made of Iraq, for we can now tell the world, "It doesn't pay to attack or even threaten the United States (or its allies). You see what happened to Iraq? It can happen to you too. Stay in line."
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Indeed, the Radical Right is crediting the campaign against Iraq with moderating the behavior of Muammar Khadaffi. They say that the war against Saddam and the utter devastation it inflicted upon his entire country is what caused the Libyan dictator to give up his ambitions to be the savior of the Arab nation thru nuclear weapons, and turn them over to inspectors. They say as well that the same lesson is being taken in daily by other fanatics and may well produce the end of nuclear programs in Iran and North Korea.
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You can't have it both ways: either the U.S. did devastate Iraq, and other real or potential enemies must understand that we have the power to do the same to them, or Saddam devastated Iraq and no such lesson is to be taken by our 'enemies'. Only an idiot believes that Saddam, who rebuilt Iraq without outside aid after massive destruction from the air in the first Gulf War, caused the disaster that Iraq became after the second Gulf War. The Radical Right ravaged Iraq. If they aren't even proud of that themselves, the rest of us have reason for grievous shame.
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But Nicole Gelinas is right about one thing: "We cannot let Middle East populations fester under brutality. Nihilism becomes the desire to annihilate others: Witness 9/11." Now, if only she could bring herself to say that her pronouncement applies most particularly to Israeli brutality against Palestinians — endlessly defended and assisted by the United States — we might actually make progress in the Middle East. (Responsive to "Faith, Hope & Savagery", April 26)
- posted by L. Craig Schoonmaker @ 12:25 PM