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The Iraq Legacy: Tell It Like It Is
With the withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraq, the administration, the military and the media are trying to put a positive spin on this grim chapter of U.S. history. It would certainly give some comfort to the grieving families of the over 4,400 soldiers killed in Iraq if their sacrifices had left Iraq a better place or made America safer. But the bitter truth is that the U.S. intervention has been an utter disaster for both Iraq and the United States.
First let's acknowledge that we should have never attacked Iraq to begin with. Iraq had no connection with our 9/11 attackers, had no weapons of mass destruction and represented no threat to the United States. We were pushed into this war on the basis of lies and no one--not George Bush, Dick Cheney, Condoleezza Rice, Colin Powell, Karl Rove, Donald Rumsfeld-has been held accountable. The "think tanks," journalists and pundits who perpetuated the lies have not been fired. Most of them can be found today cheerleading for the war in Afghanistan.
It's true that Iraqis suffered under the brutal rule of Saddam Hussein but his overthrow did not lead to a better life for Iraqis. "I am not a political person, but I know that under Saddam Hussein, we had electricity, clean drinking water, a healthcare system that was the envy of the Arab world and free education through college," Iraqi pharmacist Dr. Entisar Al-Arabi told me. "I have five children and every time I had a baby, I was entitled to a year of paid maternity leave. I owned a pharmacy and I could close up shop as late as I chose because the streets were safe. Today there is no security and Iraqis have terrible shortages of everything--electricity, food, water, medicines, even gasoline. Most of the educated people have fled the country, and those who remain look back longingly to the days of Saddam Hussein."
Dr. Al-Arabi has joined the ranks of the nearly four million Iraqi refugees, many of whom are now living in increasingly desperate circumstances in Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and around the world. Undocumented, most are not allowed to work and are forced to take extremely low paying, illegal jobs or rely on the UN and charities to survive. The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) has reported a disturbing spike in the sex trafficking of Iraqi women.
The Iraq war has left a terrible toll on our troops. Over 4,400 have been killed and tens of thousands severely injured. More than one in four U.S. troops have come home from the Iraq war with health problems that require medical or mental health treatment. "PTSD rates have skyrocketed and in 2009, a record number of 245 soldiers committed suicide," said Geoff Millard, chair of the board of Iraq Veterans Against the War. "If vets coming home from Iraq don't get treated, we will see a rise in homelessness, drug abuse, alcoholism and domestic violence."
It has also drained our treasury and contributed to the present financial crisis. As of August 2010, U.S. taxpayers have spent over $750 billion on the Iraq war. Counting the cost of lifetime care for wounded vets and the interest payments on the money we borrowed to pay for this war, the real cost will be in the trillions. This money could have been used to invest in clean, green jobs, or to rebuild our nation's schools, healthcare and infrastructure-ensuring real security for Americans.
In addition to harming our troops and economy, the war has deeply tarnished our reputation. The US policy of torture, extraordinary rendition, indefinite detention, violent and deadly raids on civilian homes, gunning down innocent civilians in the streets and absence of habeas corpus has fueled the fires of hatred and extremism toward Americans. The very presence of our troops in Iraq and other Muslim nations has become a recruiting tool.
And let's not forget that our presence in Iraq is far from over. There will still be 50,000 troops left behind, some 75,000 private contractors, five huge "enduring bases" and an embassy the size of Vatican City. As Major General Stephen Lanza, the US military spokesman in Iraq, told the New York Times: "In practical terms, nothing will change".
So let us mark this moment with a deep sense of shame for the suffering we have brought to Iraqis and American military families, and a deep sense of shame that our democracy has been unable to hold accountable those responsible for this debacle.
The lessons of this disastrous intervention should serve as an impetus for Congress and the administration to end the quagmire in Afghanistan. It's time to end these unwinnable, unjustifiable wars and bring our war dollars home to tackle the most strategic task for our national security, i.e. rebuilding America.
You can join the coalition calling for accountability by signing up here.
68 Comments so far
Show AllWhat can one say about a country that, without provocation of any kind, attacks a much, much smaller, infinitely weaker country, kills well over a million of its citizens, creates five million refugees, and destroys its electrical system, its water and sewage systems and economy? The answer: that country has committed an incredible atrocity, a war crime that ranks among the worst ever.
FACE IT ! ! The US ranks right up there with the regimes of Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot, Tojo, and Stalin. And all of us are culpable. We helped pay for the atrocities and supported our leaders in their criminality.
Jim Shea
I agree, Jill. Under NO CIRCUMSTANCES did I ever approve of the horrible pain and suffering we brought on the Iraqi people - NEVER, EVER!!!
Unfortunately, our members of Congress don't really pay much attention to the wishes of the American people!!! We just don't seem to have the money the corporations have to throw at the people in Congress to have them actually listen to us!!!
RichM August 20th, 2010 1:59 pm -- I agree with you, broadly speaking. However, I take slight issue with the statement that "There is merely a murderous campaign ongoing, waged by the American elite for THEIR OWN enrichment, to seize control of strategic regions in Central Asia & the Middle East." I think the greatest motivation is funneling more and more money into the military-industrial complex, keeping the bloated monster alive, not seizing strategic regions.
I often reflect upon what happened in my small Texas town when the military decided to close the base established after the second world war. It was considered a major disaster. Delegations went to Washington. The uproarious campaign lasted for years. That the closure happened despite all this is almost a miracle.
Ending the "wars" would entail closing thousands of bases, shutting down thousands of assembly lines, curbing massive use of fuel, etc., etc. It will take a major miracle.
When Bush was preparing to invade Iraq despite the obvious lack of objective reasons to do so, he was responding to the hunger of the monster.
manning120, I agree with you and RichM, broadly speaking.
I think what happened in your small Texas town is simply the domestic version of "seizing strategic regions".
RichM August 20th, 2010 8:52 pm -- Thanks for your comment.
The idea that the strategy is to control governments and resources, etc., suggests something akin to Hitler and his followers seeking to establish hegemony over the world. It suggests a nationalistic ego trip. I think that plays a small part in today’s situation. The U.S. created the monster (MIC) to prevail in the second world war, and it has become inextricably entrenched in our society, demanding more and more of our resources. The care and feeding of this monster, rather than controlling the world, is the primary reality. Most Americans don’t appear to believe we need to control the world. Most would like, for example, to stop dependency on foreign oil, not exploit foreign countries for their oil.
The threat of terrorism against the U.S. is, with the demise of the cold war, the new raison d’etre for the MIC. The necessity of caring for and feeding the monster is promoted by the propagandistic claim that terrorism is a serious threat to national security, which isn’t objectively supported. Terrorism is a relatively minor irritant to the U.S., viewed objectively. The threat could be met with law enforcement, rather than a multi-trillion dollar MIC. What public officials are pointing this out? None that I know of.
Thanks, Jill for the humanity and the sanity!
There are varying degrees of responsibilty and culpability when such crimes committed.
First there is no way every individual Citizen of the USA is responsible for the war on Iraq. Many tried to stop it. Many were powerless to stop it.
That said the Government of the United States of America committed the crimes.
There IS a collective responsibilty which is something else entirely.
As example I am Canadian and we have treated our Aboriginal populations shamefully.
As an individual I had nothing to do with that. As an individual I would like to see it made right although I lack the power as I am only one. Thus i see no issue with my tax dollars being used to set it right.
I think the same applies to Americans and the use of Agent Orange against the Vietnamese. Many were not even born when their Government used Agent Orange. At the same time they STILL imho have a duty and obligation to set things right and encourage their Government to "make this right" even though it might mean dollars out of their pockets in the way of taxes and even though they might well have opposed such an action were they around to do so.
So while each Individual American can not be BLAMED for the war on Iraq or be found with "blood on their hands" because Iraq in fact invaded nor can they simply wash those hands of that COLLECTIVE responsibility to ensure the USA pays for those crimes.
This via financial compensations, cleaning up the DU left behind, and working to throw that lot of war criminals in prison.
Just as those responsible for the war on Vietnam should have went to prison.
Let us go back to 1991, when Iraq was a modern city, with top notch schools, education and culture. The most secular open society in the Arab world!
From 1991 to 2003, we bombed and starved them because Saddam ran the country.
Then we gave them Shock and Awe!
To think that the Iraqi's really liked the U.S. at one time????
Well according to Ma Damn Albright: " it was worth it"!
Yes it was for her ilk. But we sure as hell liberated them didn't we. From life, homes, children of the future with their cancers from our war crimes weapons. Hell we even liberated Saddam. Bet he is happy too to have been put in power by us just to kill him at another time. Good thing we were welcomed. Is the Dick dead yet?
What has this country come to that it accepts an obscene use of the hallowed word "awe"!!!
Major General Stephen Lanza: " in practical terms, nothing will change ". Nice to hear the truth from a Major General. Too bad the great pretender couldn't have told the truth for once. I notice that Medea does not mention him as a cheerleader for the perdition of Iraq and Afghanistan. " Cheney, Condi,Colin Powell, Karl Rove, Donald Rumsfeld. Most of them can be found today cheerleading for the war in Afghanistan ". Medea, how about the #1 cheerleader? The neocons you mentioned are all out of office and Obomba is in charge now, as the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces. They are no doubt culpable for starting the war in Afghanistan, but Barry is guilty of accelerating it!
2nd paragraph about sums it up. They LIED to congress and the World.
Roger Clemens indicted for lying to congress about steroid use?? Tell me how this makes sense?? Gimme a fkng break!
Yes- isn't that hysterical? Lying to Liars is a crime? LMAO this country is so f%cked.
What this article left out is the fact that Congress has not been held accountable either. From funding the slaughter for the defense contractor buddies, to not prosecuting Bush for the lies. Not for his illegal invasions on our liberties his lies or for not even looking into the fact thst Norad was on stand down so they could play cames. JFC!!! Those planes were in the air for over an hour and not one jet could look into the problem? Americans are just plain stupid for believing the lies. Present company......,
We can still spend trillions in aid to other countries while the US goes down. I wish it was just the stupid people that had to suffer. Sorry but I am ashamed of this country. It won't change. It will die. If the people decide to rise up, funny I know, the militant police will be all over us. If they have their jobs still. Then again, there is the military.
Off topic, but parts of Pakistan is drowning while we continue to murder the rest. Insanity.
Try to think back to the picture of Benjamin being bodily carried out of the Senate gallery (still yelling) by a Capitol Cop. What's been left out is the memory of what these people have done...and still do...for us.
Rebuilding America? Wait a minute, let me re-read this article. We have this destructive, out-of-control beast with the psychotic mandate and wherewithal to savage the world and Ms. Benjamin wants it re-built? That's like Von Helsing rushing Dracula to the ER to have the stake removed. That's just nuts. Iraq has got us half dead. Let Afghanistan finish the job.
The author wrote: "Iraq had no connection with our 9/11 attackers"
__________
And who might those "attackers" be? I haven't seen any evidence suggesting anyone other than the government is connected to 9/11. The Bin Laden videos were fake; WTV 7 fell only because Silverstein ordered it (must've been explosives inside in advance... youtube Windsor fire); The government's account contradicts ALL eyewitness accounts; The "highjackers" are still alive; There has never been an open trial...
Please share any evidence you may have, as I haven't seen anything at all.
The people of the US never wanted this war. They just stood by helpless as they were lied to by Bush and Cheney. Bush and Cheney went ahead and did what they wanted even if polls showed americans did not want the war. The US Government now operates outside of the realm of a true democracy. Because the american people are unwilling or unable to rise up against their own government and take it back - they will suffer whatever is coming.
As I remember it, it was kind of lonely out there protesting against this oncoming inevitable war with the cops crawling all over us. If "(t)he people of the US never wanted this war", where the hell was everybody when it might have made a difference? Benjamin and her crew have devoted their lives to what the rest of us sit around kvetching about. How come I never see her mentioned for president?
Michael F -
I don't know where you did your protesting against the invasion of Iraq in late 2002 and early 2003, but here in my medium sized Midwest hometown I wasn't lonely at all waving my picket sign while the passing traffic honked. There were nuns and students and old hippies and young hip hoppers and labor folks and yes, some professional liberals. Across the street, a local radio station had organized a counter, pro-war demonstration that was about equally attended. People chanted back and forth. Nobody got violent, including the cops. It turned out to be futile, but I certainly wasn't one bit lonely.
As Jill and other posters above note, "we" all don't share equivalent blame with the flag waving, revenge seeking "them" who lied to the world and pumped up the ordinary citizenry to launch a war of aggression. The Bush White House warrior wannabes did that. Sure, I wish I could have done more. Yes, those who engaged in bipartisan collaboration with the neocon hawks share some responsibility. But please don't try to put that collective national guilt turd on my plate, or those of my neighbors who protested on our side of the great divide.
Those who waved the flag and those who fell into line to follow the flag are the ones who should be held morally and legally accountable for the Iraq debacle, and the continuing warfare in Afghanistan.
Bill from Saginaw
Bill from Saginaw
Saginaw sure doesn't sound like Miami. When, later, we protested against torture, the people driving by wouldn't even flick their eyes in our direction.
On the other side of the coin...I bet you guys never got to demonstrate with the Code Pink people and Ann Wright.
I get your general point, and don't entirely disagree.
However, I recall reading the back pages of the NYTs (way in the back, so as to not conflict with Judith Miller's shilling for the war on behalf of Cheney), and the LA Times, and stuff online like McClatchy News Service, and there was enough truth gurgling up through the rest of the sewage to accurately discern that the Bush Administration was fixing the facts to fit the policy, as the Downing Street Memos would later document.
Had more Americans been skeptical enough of the bullcrap the Bush Administration was shoveling to the masses through their cohorts in MSM, perhaps they would have sought out more information, and found ample reporting to at the very least, cast a credible doubt about the disinformation.
Most were too busy to bother, or too disinterested, or, to make my last point, weren't all that upset about the prospect of going to war anyway. Afterall, someone else was going to fight it, and in the weeks leading up to the war, all of the cable channels were just bristling with titillating graphics beckoning the viewer to stay tuned for the upcoming massacre.
And did they ever. As soon as the bombs started falling, public opinion swung fully in line, behind our Commander and Thief.
Honestly, most Americans aren't very interested in matters of war and peace, sadly, and to their own detriment, and countless millions of "others".
i'm on your side of the argument sir...amerikans are not just yahoos...they're guilty yahoos...it's the countries ethos FOR GODS SAKES...a dichotomy between the evil rulers and the short-fingered, drooling, but good hearted followers is hard to stomach...anyone who minimizes amerikan exceptionalism is arguing for "more denial please"...as my dad used to say "PHOOEY!"
The only lesson learned from this adventure is that Americans are a vile and murderous people. We proved we deserved what happened on 9/11.
A question? If the news is fair and balanced, and by news, I mean all the news outlets; Fox, CNN, CNBC, ABC, CBS, NBC, the New York Times,etc. why have we not seen and read about the carnage, the murder, the mayhem, the "no bid" contracts and all the generous benefits the American Tax payer is forced to pay to make these sick, warped monsters even richer? Who are the crooks? How did they do it? How much did they steal?
Why are the faces of the starving, the maimed, the sick and diseased, the dead little children not being shown to us? Where are the faces of the famalies who lives are forever changed?
One thing Vietnam taught those who create this type of useless slaughter, is to not show the results of their actions to the American people. We don't want to upset them. They don't like war. Just keep waving the American Flag. If you build it, they will come, weapons at the ready. No need to report or show them the truth. No bad info here and for God's sake, we do not want to create any "Wrong" impressions. Remember, never look back. No one actually has to see the destruction and death you have caused. What rules, what treaty, just keep in mind, we make the rules for "other" people to follow.
No Life Magazine to show us the pictures. We do have Newsweek, Time and of course the Wall Street Journal. When was the last time your read a real investigative journalist from these shameful enablers.
We sure seem to be on the highway to hell.
My thought is somehow, someway we must find the answer to stop exporting murder. Get back to creating things that will benefit mankind and not destroy it.
theleosman,
thanks for being so on target!
Every word you wrote is true.
We hear about the local kids on the local news; but the majors don't make fatalities a national issue. A soldier's death goes unreported for the most part.
Medea Benjamin: "It's time to end these unwinnable, unjustifiable wars and bring our war dollars home to tackle the most strategic task for our national security, i.e. rebuilding America."
Of course Benjamin is correct, but unless and until the kleptocracy is overthrown, nothing will change. The military industrial complex, the whores in the Amerikkkan government and the infotainment industry have too much to lose.
And never forget - 50 years from now the US will still be occupying Iraq. Don't believe me? Just look at Europe, Japan, Korea, Phillipines. The US will never be out of Iraq.
"The Iraq Legacy: Tell It Like It Is"
_______________________________
Where's the other shoe?
Since Obama's name is not referenced even once in this article, presumably because the previous maladministration initiated the the illegal and ethically reprehensible invasion and occupation of Iraq, I await the companion piece: "The Afghanistan Legacy: Tell It Like It Is".
Unless Medea intends to make it a trilogy, and add "The Yemen Legacy: Tell It Like It Is". I hope she can keep up!
it would have been cheaper, and won many more hearts and minds, to have bought every Iraqi a ticket to Disneyland.
Excellent article. It looks to me like the American people are cupable for our long series of brutal wars against other societies, because we pay the bill. If you don't like killing innocent people in far off places, if you don't like hydrogen bombs and the very real potential of destroying a considerable portion of the biosphere, stop paying for it. This is called 'ethics,' or 'ethical behavior.' There may be consequenses, that goes with the territory of being ethical. What do you want from your one precious chance at life?
"Iraq had no connection with our 9/11 attackers..."
Really? I beg to differ.
Saddam Hussein was intimately connected with the state terrorists residing in washington who perpetrated the destruction of the wtc.
He was their good buddy for a long time, until he started talking about insisting on euros instead of dollars in payment for his oil.
"...Saddam Hussein sealed his fate when he announced in September 2000 that Iraq was no longer going to accept dollars for oil being sold under the UN’s Oil-for-Food program, and decided to switch to the euro as Iraq’s oil export currency."
http://energybulletin.net/node/7707
Great comments.
"It has also drained our treasury and contributed to the present financial crisis. As of August 2010, U.S. taxpayers have spent over $750 billion on the Iraq war. Counting the cost of lifetime care for wounded vets and the interest payments on the money we borrowed to pay for this war, the real cost will be in the trillions. This money could have been used to invest in clean, green jobs, or to rebuild our nation's schools, healthcare and infrastructure-ensuring real security for Americans."
What else really needs to be said?
This is a good article but what needs to be said is that the lies Obama is still saying, that somehow Afghanistan was central to 9/11 that we are bombing them instead of Egypt and Saudi Arabia where the hijackers were from or bombing Germany and Florida where they received money instructions and further training... all these reasons are just as phony as Iraq's WMD's.
The funding did not even come from Afghanistan.... Afghanistan offered to turn bin laden over but they needed some evidence or further discussion and the US had previously offered "give us the pipe lines or you get the bomb".
These false claims and criminal acts of aggressive war are still the reason we are engaged in the biggest crusade of hate the world has seen under the false flag of "war for peace and democracy".
War is still a racket and after Roosevelt died it became America's real God.
Jim Glover August 20th, 2010 5:14 pm -- Well said.
It's a myth that terrorism is an overwhelming threat to U.S. security, when we lose more people by far from cigarette smoking, lack of health care, and even murders. The terrorists are criminal gangs who should be dealt with by law enforcement. Huge armies and billions of dollars worth of equipment have failed to turn up bin Laden, who provides justification for the outlay that feeds the MIC even as it prevents us from meeting basic needs of our people.
There's some hope that the public will turn strongly enough against Obama's "war" in Afghanistan to put a stop to it. If, that is, the truth continues coming out, thanks to persistent alternatives to the MSM like CD and many others.
Your assessment re terrorism is precisely correct Jim.
As far as public sentiment effecting any change in washington; not a chance in hell.
What happened in the 60s/70s will not happen again in the foreseeable future.
Although places like CD are certainly emotionally and psychologically cathartic, they are not weapons sufficient to combat the propaganda of the profit machine. Nor have they been able to bring about the unity needed by the people to create solidarity and common cause. That was a hope for the potential of the internet that was not and now never will be realized.
Additionally, the balance between the rulers and the ruled has now tipped so far to their favor that the supremacist elite would not hesitate to apply the military solution within the borders of the u.s. should the population become too unruly.
The runaway train has already derailed and gone over the precipice. It simply hasn't hit the jagged boulders at the bottom yet.
“A society whose citizens refuse to see and investigate the facts, who refuse to believe that their government and their media will routinely lie to them and fabricate a reality contrary to verifiable facts, is a society that chooses and deserves the Police State Dictatorship it's going to get.”
Ian Williams Goddard
"The lessons of this disastrous intervention should serve as an impetus for Congress and the administration to end the quagmire in Afghanistan."
Really?
The only lesson our politicians have learned from this "disastrous intervention" is how very profitable mass murder of innocent civilians can be, as long as you're well connected and properly compliant.
The body politik of amerika has not even the remotest desire to salvage this country or establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common Defense, PROMOTE THE GENERAL WELFARE, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.
They are, however, totally committed to the realization of the much ignored New World Order agenda that G. Bush Sr. so fondly endorsed. One world government, one world currency, one world bank all owned and controlled by a one world aristocracy.
Most people don't even give this reality a second thought. Despite mountains of evidence, which the supremacists don't even try to deny, the general population seems to think of this agenda as some fantastic "conspiracy theory".
Welcome to New Earth, the first third world planet.
"The very presence of our troops in Iraq and other Muslim nations has become a recruiting tool."
She is saying that, instead of atoning for the sins of their imperial ambitions after the deadly blowback of 9/11, USan elites have dug in their heels, and stiffened their ugly resolve to exploit/dominate the world, people, resources, anything, everything, further inflaming tensions between themselves and all peoples, including the great majority of USans.
This is'nt America anymore it's the United States of Israel. We did not go to war in Iraq to make America safer, we went into Iraq to make Israel safer. We are only in Afganistan for corporate profit. When a government lies to its people to achieve ilegal and immoral goals is this not the definetion of evil? The people have practically no power anymore. It's all big business and government. I remember America and this is not it.
If Israel didn't exist the US would still probably have invaded Iraq. The US became involved in the Middle East long before the pro-Israel lobby existed.
Plus, the military industrial complex has continued to grow more powerful.
Most of what you state is true, except for the first sentence. The Israelis demonstrate control over the congress and the senate whenever it suits them, and they pushed hard for the war. If there is war with Iran you might try to say the same thing, that we would have invaded Iran even without Israel. And again, I would tell you that you are wrong.
The US was minimally involved in the Middle East. Zionists have pushed us there.
De-Countrify Israel Now and force Zionists to pay Reparations.
Ah, yes. Name calling from the Zionists. After all, bullying is what Zionism is all about.
But the facts are anti-Zionist, and even are laid out in your apology. You list as the huge involvement in the Middle East (drum roll please)... a US alliance with Saudi Arabia under FDR. Big friggin deal. Zionism was on the march well before then, and you would know that if you weren't such a cut and past Zionist.
And you even admit as much in the next sentence, and yes, Zionism was clearly very powerful even before the creation of Israel; what do you think was the moving force behind the creation of Israel? So then to bleat that Zionism wasn't power five years after Israel's unfortunate invasion is to distort.
But distorting and lying is what Zionists do best. Their day isn't complete without five lies and ten distortions.
De-Countrify Israel Now and force Zionists to pay Reparations.
Rich - have you come across the suggestion that the Balfour Declaration was made under pressure from Zionist bankers who otherwise refused to bankroll America's involvement in wwi?
Medea Benjamin, Jody Evans, and Code Pink were interesting dissenters when the Empire began the murder spree eight years ago. I was on the street with them and applauded their spit and vinegar. But since those days, they've been manipulated by MoveOn and various other yellow-belly liberal apologists... for awhile they were toying with the idea that the Afghan War was justified... and finally they drank the Kool Aid poured by the Obama Campaign and subsequent administration. They've made fools of themselves on the Cartoon Network, er FOX News, and now they soft peddle their "dissent" as mainstream "liberals" - and most of us know how toothless that can be (Phil Ochs nailed these bastards to the cross 40 years ago - "Love Me I'm A Liberal).
Medea, Jody - you were so much better when it came from the gut. Now it's amateur hour and it's embarrassing. Put down the Kool Aid, come back to Santa Monica, and spell P-E-A-C-E with your naked bodies. That was cool, beautiful, and theatrically anarchistic... and it was also smart politics. You need to be in Obama's face like you were in the face of the Bush Crime Family.