Don’t Forget Iraq
By Anthony Gregory • Monday October 26, 2009 10:48 AM PDT • 3 Comments
News is coming in on the most bloody bombing in Baghdad in two years. The temporary lull in violence there, at least in relative terms, has allowed Americans to forget about the precarious nature of the occupation. We have a president who as a politician opposed the Iraq war before it started, but by summer 2004 he was saying, “There’s not that much difference between my position and George Bush’s position at this stage. The difference, in my mind, is who’s in a position to execute.” By 2008, before the election, he was saying the surge was working beyond our “wildest dreams.” But the “success” of the surge was largely due to the U.S. bribing and arming militant factions in Iraq. Also, the Iranian government put pressure on Iraqi Shiites to calm down their belligerence. This could all blow up, and certainly if the U.S. decides to rattle its saber at Iran. Americans would prefer to forget the U.S. occupation of Iraq, marking the imperial mindset, but the U.S. will soon have been occupying the nation for seven years, and, unfortunately, another explosion in mass violence might be the only thing that makes Americans remember the significance of this fact.
Tags: Imperialism, Iraq, Presidential Power, Uncategorized, War 
Call me a cynic, but I don’t think the average American gives a second thought about the Iraqi people. They simply don’t count.
If thousands are slaughtered, maimed, orphaned and displaced in a sectarian war we instigated by our stupid invasion and occupation, it’s of little concern to Joe Sixpack. We have more important matters to occupy our time, like Balloon Boy, American Idol and the World Series.
It really is shameful that our government can destroy a country and Americans yawn. With our belligerent foreign policy, can anyone be the least bit surprised that we are the targets of Muslim extremists?
Steve Hogan | Oct 26, 2009 | Reply
It is a shame that we Americans never seem to get it. We want to be the most powerful nation in the world but yet, shy away from those global policies and practices that allow us to maintain this position, no matter how precariously. Iraq and Afghanistan are the latest examples. Frankly, most Americans could really care less if some G.I. dies in some lonely land, as long as the price of gas stays low and it does not interfere with their lifestyle. The same Americans care even less what happens to Iraqis or Afghanis or anyone else, as long as the oil is secure! If it were not for oil, we would have abandoned Israel a long time ago, not to mention the rest of the ME and SW Asia. We would have probably pulled out of NATO too. That is the reality. Most people will deny this as it is much easier to assume the opposite. Caring is tied to prosperity. Perhaps Ivan Eland is correct…eliminate the military entirely, close down all basis, have not foreign commitment anywhere for any reason. After all, who cares?
Dave | Nov 4, 2009 | Reply