[Peace-discuss] What was that war about?
Jenifer Cartwright
jencart13 at yahoo.com
Tue Feb 26 17:02:16 CST 2008
Fwiw, Hillary Clinton is the only candidate I've heard mention/describe what's outlined in the Declaration of Principles and voice her strong opposition to them and to Bush's acting w/o congressional approval. Keith Olbermann railed against them when Bush first signed them... and I expected an outcry from Congress (and the media?) but there was pretty much silence all the way 'round (including this list, not counting me).
Speaking of Chomsky on DN! today -- I think he's right about everything he says, EXCEPT this: the reason those running for prez aren't giving Iraq top priority in stump speeches is that -- in 2008 -- voters are more concerned about domestic issues like the economy and health care than they were in 2004, and -- despite 70% saying otherwise -- they don't see the connection betw Iraq and the US economy top to bottom... plus (right or wrong/right or left) the candidates have all pretty much stated their positions on the subject of Iraq (including horse-changing late in the day). Jmho.
--Jenifer
"C. G. Estabrook" <galliher at uiuc.edu> wrote:
[From the conclusion of a recent speech by Noam Chomsky, excerpted on
Democracy Now! today. --CGE]
....let me finally return to the first member of the Axis of Evil: Iraq.
Washington does have expectations, and theyre explicit. There are
outlined in a Declaration of Principles that was agreed upon, if you can
call it that, between the United States and the US-backed, US-installed
Iraqi government, a government under military occupation. The two of
them issued the Declaration of Principles. It allows US forces to remain
indefinitely in Iraq in order to deter foreign aggression -- well, the
only aggression in sight is from the United States, but thats not
aggression, by definition -- and also to facilitate and encourage the
flow of foreign investments [to] Iraq, especially American investments.
Im quoting. Thats an unusually brazen expression of imperial will.
In fact, it was heightened a few days ago, when George Bush issued
another one of his signing statements declaring that he will reject
crucial provisions of congressional legislation that he had just signed,
including the provision that forbids spending taxpayer moneyIm
quotingto establish any military installation or base for the purpose
of providing for the permanent stationing of [United States} Armed
Forces in Iraq or to exercise [United States] control of the oil
resources of Iraq." OK? Shortly after, the New York Times reported that
Washington insistsif you own the world, you insistinsists that the
Baghdad government give the United States broad authority to conduct
combat operations, a demand that faces a potential buzz saw of
opposition from Iraq, with its
deep sensitivities about being seen as a
dependent state. Its supposed to be more third world irrationality.
So, in brief, the United States is now insisting that Iraq must agree to
allow permanent US military installations, grant the United States the
right to conduct combat operations freely, and to guarantee US control
over the oil resources of Iraq. OK? Its all very explicit, on the
table. Its kind of interesting that these reports do not elicit any
reflection on the reasons why the United States invaded Iraq. Youve
heard those reasons offered, but they were dismissed with ridicule. Now
theyre openly conceded to be accurate, but not eliciting any retraction
or even any reflection...
###
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