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Iraqis Will Be the Deciders
As Congress debates whether to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq, George Bush is trying to buy time. He and Dick Cheney have no intention of ever pulling out of Iraq.
Cheney commissioned a 2000 report by the neoconservative Project for a New American Century, which said "the need for a substantial American force presence in the Gulf transcends the issue of the regime of Saddam Hussein." A document for Cheney's secret energy task force included a map of Iraqi oilfields, pipelines, refineries, charts detailing Iraqi oil and gas projects, and a "Foreign Suitors for Iraq Oil Contracts." It was dated March 2001, six months before 9/11.
On April 19, 2003, shortly after U.S. troops invaded Baghdad, the New York Times quoted senior Bush officials as saying the United States was "planning a long-term military relationship with the emerging government of Iraq, one that would grant the Pentagon access to military bases and project American influence into the heart of the unsettled region." They discussed "maintaining perhaps four bases in Iraq that could be used in the future."
Indeed, Bush is building mega-bases In Iraq. Camp Anaconda, which sits on 15 square miles of Iraqi soil, has a pool, gym, theater, beauty salon, school and six apartment buildings. To avoid the negative connotation of "permanent," Bush officials call their bases "enduring camps." Our $600 million American embassy in the Green Zone will open in September. The largest embassy in the world, it is a self-contained city with no need for Iraqi electricity, food or water.
The motive for a permanent presence in Iraq has been obvious from day one. It's the oil. The oft-mentioned benchmark for Iraqi progress, touted by Bush and Congress alike, is the so-called Iraqi oil law. The new law would turn over control of most oil production and royalties to foreign oil companies. The Iraqi people are opposed to the oil law.
The biggest impediment to the privatization of Iraq's oil is the unions. Faleh Abood Umara, general secretary of the Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions, told U.S. photojournalist David Bacon, "It will undermine the sovereignty of Iraq and our people ... If the law is ratified, there will be no reconstruction. The U.S. will keep its hegemony over Iraq."
In early June, the Iraqi Federation of Oil Unions shut down the oil pipelines. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki capitulated to the union's demand that implementation of the oil law be postponed until October so the union could propose alternatives.
Arab labor leader Hacene Djemam said, "War makes privatization easy: First you destroy society; then you let the corporations rebuild it." After Halliburton entered Iraq in 2003 and tried to control the wells and rigs by withholding reconstruction aid, the union went on strike for three days. Exports stopped and government revenue was cut off. Halliburton shut down its operations.
Iraqis overwhelmingly oppose a permanent U.S. presence in their country. A group of Iraqi nationalists, including Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds, have formed a pan-Iraqi coalition to topple al-Maliki. They represent a vast majority of rank-and-file Iraqis outside of Parliament. Their primary basis of unity is opposition to the U.S. occupation of Iraq; they also strongly oppose Al Qaeda in Iraq and the Iranian influence in Iraq.
"All the problems come from the occupation," Umara observed "... The occupation fosters the enormous corruption ... As long as we have an occupation, we'll have more sabotage and killing. But when people from the local tribes control the security, they have expelled the al-Qaeda forces and those others who are terrorizing people. This means we can protect ourselves and bring security to our nation, with no need of the U.S. forces. To those who believe that if the U.S. troops leave there will be chaos, I say, let them go, and if we fight each other afterwards, let us do that. We are being killed by the thousands already."
The Iraqi unions want the occupation to end. Hashmeya Muhsin Hussein, president of the Electrical Workers Union of Iraq, told Bacon, "If it was up to Bush, he'd occupy the world. But that's not what the nations of the world want. Would they accept occupation, as we have had to do? Our nation does not want to be occupied, and we'll do our best to end it."
Nationalists in the Iraqi Parliament recently passed a bill calling for the United States to set a timetable for withdrawal, and another demanding the Iraqi government present any plan to extend the occupation past 2007 to Parliament. They will not accept a proposal that includes permanent U.S. bases on Iraqi soil. Our national discourse must include a discussion of U.S. intentions for Iraq after a troop withdrawal. But ultimately, as in Vietnam, it will be the Iraqi people who are the deciders.
Marjorie Cohn is a professor at Thomas Jefferson School of Law and President of the National Lawyers Guild. Her new book, Cowboy Republic: Six Ways the Bush Gang Has Defied the Law, was just published. Her articles are archived at http://www.marjoriecohn.com.
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19 Comments so far
Show AllWhile I agree with Marjorie Cohn and mirf59, I see no way in which to make the media responsible (and responsive) to the people. There is no quality journalism in the U.S. One only has to spend a few days in Canada or China to know this. Even NPR and PBS now cater to the Bush adminstration and the right wing. Under such conditions, discussion is a laugh, and debate an impossibility.
The U.S. should pour those billions into developing alternate forms of energy. Then we should disengage completely from the swamp that is the middle east.
It seems very likely that the main problem of Iraq is US occupation. We hear this again and again from Iraqis. No Iraqi is ever quoted as saying, "If only America would be generous enough to lend us 30,000 more troops, then we think we could stabilize the situation." Not one.
So, this clearly becomes a failure of the media. The media accept whatever framing of the issues in Iraq is presented by those that initiated the War. In the dialogue on TV, the debate will always occur within the parameters of actions proposed by the President. Slight tactical changes that sustain the illusion that progress is measured in terms of an ability to declare victory and leave.
If the dominant visual media were truly independent and practiced quality journalism, the dominant theme would be, "Why are we still in Iraq if the people want us out, the President said we would leave when asked, the people say our presence is the problem, we are losing lives and treasure, there is no real evidence that the investment has paid off using the criterian of democracy freedom liberty and absence of fear and pain for Iraqis?"
Then, when the answers start coming in, the media would probe each. The arguments that we need more time, a slight change in troops, or other tactical adjustment have all been shot down multiple times over the years by the hard realities on the ground that have resulted from prior attempts.
That the discussion continues to be framed along these lines is definitive proof that the dominant media in the US is not useful in the way that the media is supposed to be useful to the public.
Whyt would the United States occupy Iraq, kill anyone they are suspicious of there, and steal their resources at the risk of American safety in their own nation. I will say that any American who believes that the purpose of invading and occupying Iraq is to kill al-Qaeda there instead of in your nation is an unsound argument to propose. Invading and occupying Iraq will not make Americans safer. It will make angry the Middle East and they are merely biding their time. In other words, the USA is SOL. That has a nice ring to it. I am wondering what will come first - bankruptcy of the United States due COMPLETELY to their paranoia, THEIR terrorism throughout the world, and their antithetical Robin Hood positions - or a terrorist attack. You reap what you sow Americans. Remember that.
The reason why Osama bin Laden comitted 9/11 was becasue the United States financially supports Israel and condones Palestinian opprerssion and the fact that americans have been raising Hell in the Middle East for decades. Don't consider yourselves saints or innocent victims here Americans. This nation has chosen not to practice humility or to redeploy their troops back to their pathetic nation to defend themselves agaisnt al-Qaeda and chosen instead to play into al-Qaeda's hands by committing genocide agaisnt Iraq and supporting Israel in every way imaginable. Americans in general evidently believe that bin Laden is not serious considering how insane he is. Of course, the United States also chooses to be allies with Saudi Arabia even though citizens of that nation committed 9/11. Ummmm...please explain the rationale behind American mass stupidity. Do Americans want a terrorist attack to happen in the United State for placing Israel and the Iraq invasion above the security of their own citizens. That is foolish...
The house just shot down efforts to reinstitute the fairness doctrine. The Right tries to cast it as suppression of free speech and the latest cover of the National Review has a gagged Rush Limbaugh. What a crock. First of all, the public owns the airwaves and corporate media, threatened by viewpoints that might challenge their monopoly on the groupthink whine that it will hurt the economy. Damn straight, it might hurt their economic status, but it might improve ours. It is not about squelching Limbaugh or other talk radio propaganda mouthpieces--but ensuring they don't get the whole pie.
When the Democrats vote down the fairness doctrine, they are voting against us.
Iraqi oil is not worth all the treasure being poured into this mess. Develop alternate energy. Trade with Canada with their shale oil. Develop something other than the internal combustion engine, and leave the middle east to hell alone. No occupations, no support for any of their governments, No "humanitarian assistance" Nothing. Tell Saudi Arabia to go to hell.
bush is an "enduring" idiot
cheney will "endure" eternity in hell
An excellent article unmasking all Bush gang propaganda. Now if some good souls would get hard copies and send them to MSN and the Congress members. Not that they don't know it already, but they will become wise that people know it too.
As President, the arrest of Cheneybush and loyalists on inauguration day will demonstrate to the world that America is back, baby. That action alone will grab and hold their attention. Then I announce the new plan: oil/reconstruction pie shared equally among the Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds, with all jobs filled by Iraqis first. Contracts spread among a new "coalition of the willing" in exchange for peacekeepers, political brains, watchdogs, etc.
A bumpy ride, sure, but spreading the wealth and keeping the Iraqis working and invested in their own future will smooth the road.
Then, the unveiling of CSPAN-SPECIAL EDITION, 24/7 coverage of the Cheneybush trials.
Bush and Cheney would like permanent bases their to watch over the oil wealth and to make sure that it keeps flowing.
The the Iraqi PM says that we can leave whenever we want, he may mean that he does not intend to give anything more away to the U.S. and the oil companies and he would just as soon finish off his opposition once and for all.
Sir Melvin...Guilty of being an American..yes & trying to understand the mass stupidity of this country. We are living under a dictatorship, being told that the occupation of Iraq is their liberation, have lost our freedoms, have our phones tapped,corporations and tiny cells that are not yet a fetus are the only ones with rights. We are taught to hate immigrants..forgetting how this land isn't even ours...and on and on.
I have been in the street at least once per week since before the war. I am polling people on impeaching Cheney..and what do I get, "Let me ask my husband..",
"waste of time", "you need to be more creative". I can't figure it out either. Is it all the junk food?
Impeach Cheney...HR 333
Kucinich, the candidate without corporate strings
What burns me up is the constant mention of our "vital interests in Iraq and the region" echoed by every representitive in gov and talking head and no one ever stops to ask what those interests are.
Imagine if the question was asked of Clinton:
If our "interests" represent oil as you have previously alluded, do you believe that it is justified to brutally slaughter a million human beings to gain access to the natural resources you seem to suggest we are entitled to take by force? And how is the slaugter any different than the Holocaust which we are supposed to honor as the only mass slaughter of humans as worthy of mentioning? Have you turned a blind eye?
Have Iraq demand a UN vote to force the immediate withdrawal of the US presence in Iraq and scrap the US drawn oil give-away. The oil belongs to the Iraqi people, Bush. And get the hell out of their country. Go find your own resources. Better yet, resign and go live in Paraguay where you've bought land. And take Hillary with you. Good riddance to both of you.
The concept that the Iraqis will mess up things without our brilliant leadership is tragically laughable.
It is not fair to suggest (or say) that most Iraqis want the US to leave. There is considerable debate amongst Iraqis about that.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/07/19/MNGDQR2PTV1.DTL&feed=rss.news
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/07/16/iraq.civilians/index.html?section=cnn_latest
yankee doddles: Thanks for the expose on your 515pm post. I cannot watch any of those shows and find it sad that our fellow Americans think they are getting real news. Unbelievable, after six and a half years of lies, falsehoods, and destroying everything the Founding Fathers fought for. This country is going downhill fast, and all the money spent and borrowed for the militarism that the Republican thugs and the Democratic collaborators in Congress are using in our name is bringing misery, suffering, and death to working people around the globe.
What a shame!
frank1569: Man, I can't wait to watch C-Span when the trials start!
Sir Melvin Cleophus: Well stated, especially the first paragraph.
I'm glad the pan-Iraqi coalition was mentioned. The lie oft repeated that we have to keep our troops there to prevent all out civil war and chaos is just that -- another lie. Only a witdrawl with stated deadlines can begin to bring peace and restructuring to that ruined country. That is what they have asked for.
Hey, did anyone hear about the new car being tested in India? It is called the CityCat, costs $12,700, and the engine runs on compressed air. Seriously folks, read it in Popular Science. Fills up the carbon-fiber tanks with 340 liters of air at 4350 psi, at properly equiped stations for about 2 bucks, or you can use the cars built in compressor, takes about 4 hours for a recharge of air. will go 68 mph, and has a range of 125 miles. All this from Luxembourg-based MDI, some 6000 "0-emission" air cars fixin to hit the streets in India, August 2008. MDI has also signed deals with 12 other countries, including Germany, Israel, and South Africa. How's this for some good news to make ones heart glad.
Americas universities are teaching the worlds children to seek and find new and better ways to benefit all mankind. These foreign students go back to their respective nations and continue to churn out mind boggleing discoveries. I am always amazed at the abilities of our children to fill the world with hope.
LMJ
This is a fabulous piece. Hits the nail sqaurely on the head. Why couldn't we have just paid a fair price for Iraqi Oil? Why did we have to kill, kill, kill, so many people to steal their oil? Essentially, we, as taxpayers, are paying to secure a few corporations' product, in blood and money. Shouldn't they be buying their own product out of their own funds?