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At
times one manages to find a little time to reflect
while on the other hand one takes time out as the
need to reflect is of necessity. It is the combination
of both of these situations that has found me some
time to pen a few words about the ongoing war on Iraq.
As
I watch continually the double speak, the sound bites,
the directed mis-information, the fabrications, the
hypocrisy and even the down right lies in the frontal
battle for hearts and minds in the 24 hour televised
war I was moved again to pick up a book I had read
a few years back, Ireland and the Propaganda War written
by Liz Curtis. While the content of the book provides
much information about the British strategy in relation
to the war of propaganda within Ireland it is a book
that can draw many lessons as to the way an occupying
force will operate inside or outside its own definition
of its own laws with propaganda playing a leading
role.
This
war on Iraq is portrayed as a war for freedom and
liberation, a war against a brutal dictator and about
destroying weapons of mass destruction. Putting aside
the issue of Turkey, Israel, Pakistan, India etc.
and putting aside the fact that the US armed and funded
Saddam etc, liberation and freedom from the head of
cruise missiles raining down and slaughtering women
and children to many would seem an unusual way to
bring about ‘democracy’ . Yet this is not
about ‘bringing democracy’ but about ‘imposing
it’, that is the US brand of ‘democracy’
in these situations, albeit for US selfish interest.
Hundreds of civilians, women and children in Iraq
have been liberated to date, liberated to their graves
in the cause of that US imposed ‘freedom and
democracy’, while the blood soaked hands of imperialism
continues and is already looking to Syria and Iran
and others to attempt to complete the ‘Game plan’.
As
a peace activist against this war it drives home to
me that the increasing unilateralism of the US and
its increasing drives to war combined with its dismissing
of international agreements and laws is the real threat
to this world. People may find it bizarre that the
US believe that this war on Iraq (and no doubt with
wars on other states on their mind) will in fact bring
stability to the world.
Yet
I do not think that they (the US) really believe that
it will deliver a safer world ‘for all’
but deliver ‘for them’ a continued unparalleled,
military, economic and political position that will
fend of any states in the years to come that might
be knocking on their door for a piece of that domination.
Have no doubt they will have mainly US firms reconstructing
Iraq and dealing with the oil industry, they will
give loans and demand privatisation and the following
of a strict neo -liberal agenda in return - all for
the benefit of US economic interest. They will then
‘impose’ their own ‘regime’ quite
possibly a US administration (therefore an occupying
force unilaterally administering another nation state)
despite the talk of democracy and their talk of international
law, and then eventually to ‘place’ those
who will follow US dictate into governance as they
have done previously in many, many other countries.
Sometimes
they will use a veil of democracy if it necessitates
sometimes not, but always for the benefit of US political
interests. And of course the stationing of US troops
and military hardware there in Iraq for many years
to come, again for US strategic interest as a part
player in the protection of that domination. This
they believe will be reflected in their dealings with
and indeed within other countries, thus sending a
clear message to others that they are the only show
in town and no one should step out of line. This line
dictated not by the international community but themselves,
although trying in voice to bring them on board if
it really necessities but if needs be to go it alone
outside of agreed consensus or law - as that US selfish
interest has and will dictate above any and all agreed
international laws or agreements if they so desire.
Many
people have a clear understanding of this. That is
why many millions have taken to the streets against
this war including many who have not protested before.
And although such protests delayed their war and gave
others the strength to oppose it they went ahead any
way against the will of the people and against both
international law and much of the international community.
Yet the voice of protest needs to grow and upcoming
international days of actions are planned were our
voices will be louder and our actions more forward,
to send a clear message that this war is wrong and
to make them think before they embark (which they
want to do) for a further carve up of the world for
their selfish interest. If one looks past the propaganda
one will find that quite simply that this war is not
done in the name of democracy but in fact done in
the name of, and in the cause of, old fashioned Imperialism
albeit within the 21st century.
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