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2004 May 6
Underreported to say the least
Iraqis were able to control the road from Baghdad to the airport yesterday.
It has not been reported for how long or if it has been retaken.
In Afghanistan that ragtag laughingstock Taliban is on the Spring offensive
and winning. The US sent 2000 more Marines to try to turn them back.
Here I was saying Korea could move and not be stoppable and the Taliban does
it. My predictions skills are very poor.
Red Cross does its job
ICRC tells us it has been complaining about conditions at that prison for
some time. The ICRC talks with top military and civilian heads of the
military. Now we know Bush is lying saying he is shocked.
And ICRC's view of the current mess? "The pictures are bad. Our reports are
worse."
Punish those responsible
It seems a US patrol took an Iraqi into custody and beat him to death. The
leader of the group has been charged with assault not murder. No one else
has been charged. A gang murder and only one man is charged with assault.
American justice is swift and certain as all Iraqis now realize.
Everything but the gas chambers
So far as we know that is.
Most of the soldiers probably do not condone torture. Probably
because we don't know. Who would have thought any of them did before now?
It's a waste of time to ask because they would not admit it.
And it probably doesn't occur at most of the prisons the US runs in
the US, Cuba, Afghanistan and Iraq along with a dozen INS prisons around the
country. Again probably because we don't know and it won't be
admitted if asked. Most of them do not get Red Cross visits. And now we see
why the US went ballistic when a chaplain removed even something trivial
from Guantanamo.
Perhaps the Syria we are so upset with on the surface really is a partner
explaining why we deported a Canadian citizen to Syria for a year of
torture.
From now on every claim of torture has credibility, true or not. And all the
old charges such as the murder of thousands of Taliban prisoners are now
presumptively true.
Bin Laden not to be left behind
According to the latest tape he is offering a reward for the death of Lord
Bremer. Quaintly, 10 kilograms, 22 pounds of gold. For those interested in
the offer there are 12 troy ounces to the pound, 264 ounces. If I were
Bremer I would be insulted. The US bounty for bin Laden is $US25 million and
he isn't offering 1/10th that for Bremer.
2004 May 5
Very poor predictions are being made
It is wishful thinking to suggest Bushbaby is bright enough to understand it
has lost not only Iraq but the entire middle east. He is foolish enough to
think he has a huge partisan pro-american base over there that will jump to
his political defense. He has shown no ability to comprehend there are other
points of view much less that they might be valid.
So anyone waiting for the entire establishment to do an about face and leave
as soon as possible is very sadly mistaken.
On that note it has leaked part two of the occupation prediction. 135,000 US
troops will be there through 2005. That 20 months away. After the election
another few years will be added. But we all know the intention is to be
there forever. So do Iraqis. So they will have to throw us out. Bush or
Kerry will have to resist solely for macho ego. So you artists out there,
get your ideas together for the Iraq War Memorial.
And that is on top of a confirmation of 47,000 more troops to be given one
year tours in Iraq. Cannon fodder or murderers and rapists and torturers? So
far a "stern" reprimand in writing has been the greatest penalty. I guess
that was not only stern but very stern. It might even have been in bold
typeface. Not quite true. An enlisted man was reduced in rank to private
and separated from the service for cold blooded murder of a stone throwing
child. Wacky, lovable GIs all of them.
Of course all of this is to cover up the fact the torture and rape is by
order of the administration. Officers implement the orders of the
administration. Everyone who has spoken has named civilian and military
intelligence officers as the origin of the rape, murder and torture orders.
If they want to save their pink butts they point fingers up the chain of
command. The way to prevent that is hand-slaps and good civilians jobs.
Follow the news and see which it is.
With the next terrorist attack only an idiot would ask why they hate us
after these confirmed revelations. Justice over there requires the
satisfaction of the aggrieved party in the justice or compensation. Our
justice does not supersede theirs it is merely different. Disdain it if you
will. In their terms they have the right to revenge absent justice. Of
course we will have to kill them if they do.
And is that different from ours? No. It is very judeo-christian. It is a
Roman Law tradition of crimes against the state. It predated Christianity
and superseded Judaic law.
Odd thought at 4am
If I write President Jesus everyone would know who I meant. I mean the guy
who has so little respect for himself that he would be a falling down drunk
were it not for the other Jesus. The only person who could binge drink 24/7
for 25 years and never suffer the least brain damage -- against all medical
odds. Yes, the President Jesus.
Missing link in torture pictures
To attempt a masterpiece of understatement, Iraqis are pissed at the torture
and rape and sodomy pictures. But how did they see them? They now have
satellite TV. And they get their equivalent of Fox's fair and balanced
coverage from al Jazeera and al Arabiya. Of course Americans can see through
Fox's lies and distortions but Iraqis cannot see through the local lies and
distortions. So the US is working to suppress freedom of the press.
Of course they have good reason to try to do so. The local stations are
reporting the truth albeit sensationally although it is hard to see how rape
and torture can be sensationalized. And the US is there in the gunsights of
people seeing the truth. Now if the US were evacuating they might get some
place in quieting down the coverage. But as the rational objective is to
stir the people to get end the occupation. It is a legitimate goal. It was
glorified in WWII.
Tongue very in cheek
The only empire in all the history of the world which conquered and made it
stick despite opposition was the Roman. Their method was simple. After
putting down any rebellion, line up every survivor and kill every tenth
person whether man, woman or child. That is about the only method left to
the President Jesus. But he has to do it publicly not behind collateral
damage excuses. From the pictures, maybe he is already doing it.
Removing tongue
How much torture in going on in the US by the same government?
President Jesus speaks to Iraq
I wish he were not our lovable idiot. He said in the interview the
difference between him and Hussein is "trained torturers were never brought
to justice under his regime." And justice consists of verwy, verwy stern
reprimands in writing and maybe even a tongue lashing. Although looking at
the pictures tongue lashing might not have its usual meaning.
2004 May 4
Gotta love people who love to torture
It seems Amnesty International first reported torture in Iraq in July 2003.
Given it would have taken some time for them to find out it is a reasonable
assumption torture was used from the beginning. Therefore it was planned.
That puts responsibility right at the top. Remember there is no smoking gun
connecting Hitler to his camps either.
And there is no official explanation of why this was done. At this time anyone
claiming it was to extract urgently needed information is making it up. But if
that is true then those who needing the information must be charged with each
count and with conspiracy. Until such people are charged, it was all a bunch of
sick sexual sadists.
It is how the story plays in the Arab world that matters not how it plays in
Peoria. Over there they are less shocked because it confirms what they
already suspected. In fact the man on the street is not shocked at all. They
know us better than we know ourselves.
There are now reports of contractors as torturers. The full weight of the
criminal law of the country of their employer applies to them. They are
facing at least 20 years just for what is in a couple pictures. The human
species will be better off without them. A more rational approach would be
to turn them over to the Iraqi courts.
Of course no one is betting good money that anyone will ever get a fraction
of the punishment these crimes deserve. That would be ashcrofting stupid.
You can always trust Bush to be Bush
"There are no longer torture chambers or rape rooms or mass graves in Iraq."
Not surprising from a man whose "If you are not with us you are with the
terrorists" was intended to push people into the terrorist camp.
When a dinner guest proclaims his virtue it is time to count the silverware,
or in the case the bodies.
Ukraine, 1940
According to the popular narrative German troops arriving in the Ukraine
were greeted as liberators from Stalin and communism. But they began
treating Ukrainians like communists and lost the support of the country.
2004 May 3
Oil prices highest since 1990
We aren't even getting cheap oil out of the war.
Amazing News
The US gave Fallujah to the control of the Ba'athist General. This went down
well with no one. Al Sadr, the man they have surrounded in Najaf, objected.
The US has now said he will be replaced. He brought about 1100 trained
troops with him. The untrained people in the city held off the US. What if
he does not want to be replaced?
The people were cheering victory over the US not this general. We don't know
what they will make of him. Maybe they will like him. Maybe they will not
want him to be replaced. Maybe they will see letting the US dictate who they
get after their costly victory is reason enough to object -- to object means
to start shooting again.
It is like they read tea leaves to decide what to do. It was a good move to
cut the deal and leave to avoid the confrontation. Putting an experienced
Iraqi in charge was a good move although they could have made a better
choice. The proper move at this point is to say it was the best deal we
could make in time to avoid fighting and future choices will be better. But
no. Rub it in Iraqis noses they are not in charge. Risk restarting the
confrontation with the general or the people of the city of both.
And another report claims US General Myers is claiming the report of the
Iraqi general in charge were very mistaken. Let me get this straight. They
organize 1100 men and tell them their own man is in charge, let them into
the city, start turning over parts the city the US did control to him and
the report is very mistaken. General Myers, you have a brilliant future
ahead of you in politics.
But who is General Myers? Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The
highest ranking and most political position in the US military. He is a
politician. Look back a day or two and read what I said about the troops on
the ground being reversed by people in Washington. That looks like exactly
what is happening. Too much of this will lead to bringing a coup to
Washington. (Note: Two stars is the highest military rank possible based
solely upon merit. Three, four and five stars like Myers are political.)
Defense for those accused of torture
"We knew this was a war of conquest. None of us were stupid enough to think
it was about anything but oil. So we knew we had to make them fear their
conquerors. We did the job you gave us. We saw the wink, wink."
Informal man on the Iraqi street
Disgusted but not surprised. Given the Iraqi view of the violence and
sexuality in the US (from Hollywood) would anyone expect them to be
surprised? And how many kids not old enough to drink beer might have thought
the real word was like Hollywood? Everyone knows the bad guy is always
tortured in a good cause and the torturer is a hero. And the sex? Are not
things like this the superior Iraqi morality does not permit such open
displays? Look what it leads to.
That may or may not be dumb but it is no dumber than American views of Iraqi
culture.
Another little point. The US press has made the claim the sex acts were only
simulated. Pray tell, how do they know?
Dead or Alive
Any Shia or Kurd member of the Iraqi Governing Counsel. The bounties start
at $US one Million. What else does a country do with collaborators and
quislings? Great thing you started there Bushbaby.
2004 May 2
Durned furriners
I do not like to comment on non-American political systems because I get so
little right when discussing the American system. But Tony Blair appears to
realize there is a ton of bricks just above his head and he needs to get out
of the way before it falls on him. So he resigns. No replacement is going to
step under those bricks to be a new face with the same message. A Blair
replacement has to evacuate British troops from Iraq and oppose the US in
the UN.
There have probably been outrageously false charges of what goes on in
American prison camps. Now that this is confirmed, all are confirmed. What
can I say other than observe the conclusion that is obvious?
And still no one is pointing out this is exactly what Palestinians at the
hands of the Israelis have been reporting for decades. What is reprehensible
for America is acceptable for Israelis. There is no other conclusion.
The subject matter of these pictures is so unpleasant to the middle east
that not one of the Iraqi newspapers ran the pictures. Not one. Yet they see
the "enlightened" west running them to increase the shame of the prisoners.
Perhaps because they know the US wants to provoke violence to justify
staying in Iraq.
These Israeli style tortures have been reported since July 2003. These
pictures are of the style reported. It cannot be ignored we are finally
learning of the way the US treats Iraqis as a matter of policy.
Chickenhawks excuse it
It is about time for the chickenhawks, armchair warriors, to start excusing
the behavior. They will draw upon their vast military experience acquired
from watching WWII movies to tell us how natural it all is, that we
shouldn't make too much of it that these things happen in war. They will
sound all macho and all knowing, wise and experienced and full of shit of
course.
Guess what, folks. This is not prohibited because we are lily-pure good
guys. It is prohibited so that our men whom they hold prisoner will be well
treated. That is why this is not done. Unless there is severe and
commensurate and public punishment of all involved very quickly it will
start happening to the prisoners they take.
The start of another good month
Eleven dead Americans in the first two days. Bring
'em on ... and on ... and on.
2004 May 1
Reverberations
From the news DOD in Washington said it was not aware of the deal cut on
Fallujah when there were reports of the Marines leaving the town. DOD is out
of the loop. Military folks are like the rest of the bureaucracy, they have
dozens of conflicting orders to select from. They can either ask Washington
which one or they can decide on their own. Clearly they did not ask
Washington on this solution so they have taken the initiative away from
Washington. Consider this the beginning of the revolt of the military
against Washington. Hopefully they won't have to take the revolt to the
White House.
If Washington overrules this and orders the taking of Fallujah look for a
military coup in the US. If the military is professional there is no
honorable alternative.
Torture coverup?
The issue is torture physical, mental and sexual. I can't imagine the UCMJ
ever thought to codify the sex crimes in that prison camp. so the rational
charge is whatever is short of rape which is codified. We have one count in
each photo. As there is a photographer we have at least two people involved
in every photo so we have either a conspiracy to commit the crime,
accomplices to the crime or both. I say both. We have superior officers who
cannot claim ignorance until at least two levels up the chain. Additionally
failure to report a crime makes an accomplice to the crime. If more than two
levels up the chain they are guilty of dereliction of duty in failing to
know.
So if you follow the courts martial of these subhuman scum of the earth look
at who is charged, the charges and the number of counts of the crime. The
first step in a coverup is to minimize the actions by minimizing the
charges. Then look at the findings and see if it differs from Klan members
getting a wrist slap for a lynching. Then look to the sentences and see if
they are comparable to the actions in the pictures.
Justice must not only be done, it must be seen to be done. -- some Brit
Finally, compare all of the above to what would happen if these pictures
were from a US prison and the penalties which would be given by law.
But wait. No one is being courtmartialed.
There will be Americans captured in the future. They will be lucky to get
off as lightly as the Iraqis in these pictures. The point will be to send a
message to the arrogant Americans. And while the US is frantically claiming
all Americans are not like in the pictures, it will ring hollow when it
claims all Iraqis are all like those who abuse American captives.
Dubya's Mass Destruction
July 1: Iraq orders the US to release all prisoners, something it was
required to do after Dubya's "mission accomplished" speech.
July 1: Iraq orders the US to leave the country.
Those are the two most important acts for Iraq if it is a sovereign nation.
We know it will not be. And it is not just a matter of a word and up for
debate as to what it means. What matters is other nations recognizing it as
a sovereign nation. Ignore what the US says and ignore what whomever claims
to be the government after 30 June. Watch for other countries recognizing
Iraq as sovereign. That will mean accepting Iraq's ambassadors and
representatives of the government of Iraq.
It seems since there is no occupation international law on occupation does
not govern. As there was no surrender the war continues. Everyone imprisoned
by the US is a prisoner of war.
Hey Dubya! If freedom is a god given right is god on your side when you
refuse to let Iraq free of your control? How can god be on your side when
you take away the god given right to freedom?
Hey Dubya! Who would Jesus bomb?
Dubya is the Man! He kicks godless foreigner ass for the Lord! And his
troops fuck those godless asses for good measure.
2004 April 30
Torture Incorporated
White House spokesman Scott McClellan said the President had known about the
allegations for some time. He did not explain why it was not stopped when
first known. He did not explain why it took the scheduled airing of the
pictures for the General in charge to be relieved.
What is not being mentioned is these are the methods Israel uses every day.
They are identical to what Palestinians report happens to them for months
and years on end.
No Iraqi can miss the message, "If you are arrested, this will happen to
you." So much for all future calls for surrender. Failure to surrender in a
rational manner when the battle is lost is the greatest cause of casualties
on both sides.
Something good seems to have happened in Fallujah. The Marines are leaving
even though there are reports of getting in some last licks. The bad news is
no one who was in the city is going to say anything which helps the US. No
matter what the US says happened they are reporting what they saw as
indiscriminate shooting and shelling. Even if they are lying, who are Iraqis
going to believe? Fellow Iraqis or barbarian sexual sadists?
It is good the US doesn't have any real enemies in the world other than
those it makes. The entire military is engaged with Iraq. If North Korea
really wanted South Korea they could take it and there is nothing the US
could do to stop it. If Iran wanted a little payback for US support of Iraq
in the war now would be the perfect time. The US cannot deal with one
additional conflict any place in the world.
2004 April 28
Bullshit continues
Iraqis are stockpiling weapons in mosques and schools. How do they know? How
did they get spies in to see it happening? Why is it the few news sources
that can get in are being shown that is not true? How can the world's only
superpower not be omniscient? How can the world's only superpower still
depend upon fallible human beings? This can not be.
Fact is if the Shias were to call for open revolt tomorrow we would be lucky
to get half of our troops out alive. We have only 1/3 the troops needed to
deal with open revolt across Iraq.
And please do not get the idea this is not in the forefront of American
actions in Iraq. It is exactly that open revolt they are trying to avoid.
But they do not know how. They are playing games with negotiations,
attrition and shows of force. None are working. There is little left to try
but declaring the troops will start to leave the day after the hand-over on
30 June. Instead the US insists it will not hand over any power of interest
and will stay for at least ten years. What would Americans do in their
position but kill the foreigners?
What would Americans do. That is the key issue. Regardless of liking or
disliking foreigners would you turn on your fellow American regardless of
what he did to the foreigners? I would not. Neither will Iraqis. Is it
better to be ruled by Americans or Hussein? Americans have so far killed
more than Hussein did and the number is increasing. One can debate the
niceties of free speech until hell freezes over. One cannot debate when
dead. Americans have killed more and show no signs of stopping. They show
every sign of killing faster in the future.
And this US appointed government, why would anyone pay attention to it? The
members will eventually have to plead their case in court to avoid execution
as collaborators. They are collaborators. The only question is their
behavior as collaborators. If they supported America then they are
complicit in the crimes of Americans.
Crimes is an interesting subject. The claims of actions which constitute war
crimes is overwhelming. And the US publicly admits to them. So there is
no question. But Iraq's laws still apply as Iraq never surrendered. All
foreign troops are illegal aliens and everyone they have killed has been
murdered. The penalty for murder is death. And by law and custom every
American in the world is an accomplice even if they did not support the war.
Such is the virtue of democracy.
Back on the home front
Bush insists on keeping all the new powers following 9/11 and getting more.
Each one is a "necessary" abridgment of freedom which we must give up for
the duration of the war on terrorism. 1) Bush does not say these are all the
new powers needed and no more. 2) Bush has said the duration of the war, the
duration of this loss of freedom, will be longer than our lifetimes.
From the "payback 's a bitch department
Taking a cowboy lead from the US, Iraqis have offered a $15 million reward
on the heads of three US officials, SECDEF Rumsfeld, Lord Bremer and General
Sanchez. There is a slight catch. The reward is literally for the head so
simple assassination is not sufficient.
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