Rape and Resistance, a conversation.
I had conversation with someone the other day, and I decided to publish it.
We talked about violence in Iraq, and I want to share this conversation, along with some recently added thought from me, with all of you...
This person, X, said: I don't believe in violence, I think resistance people in Iraq are wrong, killing is wrong, I can't agree with them, war is wrong I agree, but I think that if resistance people just stop fighting and drop their weapons, then fighting will stop, and people will stop dying, I feel so sad for all Iraqis that are dying...
I had two options, shut up and have an ulcer, or reply, so for health reasons, I decided to talk, and I did, for nearly five hours.
I started with the *who started the war? Who is attacking and who is defending himself? Who is the invader? Who is the one that doesn't have the right to be here? Who's country Iraq is?* well, only in a very detailed way, and then moved to the * The occupation is killing more Iraqis everyday, the occupations is the reason of ALL the killing in the field, there are 60-70 operations against the occupation everyday and a minority of them hurt civilians by mistake and those ones the only attacks you ever hear about in your media, those who target innocent civilians in purpose are not from the resistance: those are terrorists and the only reason they existed, and the only reason they came to Iraq from all over the world is the occupation* well, in details too, and then we reached a part where X said:
I don't care, let the resistance just stop the fight, so many people are getting hurt.
I said: they won't and they shouldn't, and the war isn't their fault, and they didn't choose to make a war, they didn't travel thousands of miles to make a war, they are only defending: defending their countrymen and women, defending their lands, defending their homes, women and children, dignity and pride.
X said: this same pride that you are talking about, made Bush not admit his mistakes and not pull out of Iraq.
I paused...
* Ouch! That was mean! It's a blow under the belt, it doesn't even give you a point! *
and then I said:
Alright, let me put it this way, women might understand it better though:
If someone is trying to rape you, wouldn't you fight back? And then he tries and tries, and you fight and fight and fight, and he insists and you try to hurt him, even if a little to make him go away, you are bleeding, and he tries and hits you, over and over, to make you surrender, your nose is broken, you are screaming in pain, you push and kick, you cry for help, he beats you more and more and more, your tooth is broken, you hit him on the stomach as hard as you could, you see pain on his face, he tries to cover it and look strong, you cant see with your left eye, your throat hurts you because of the screaming, people pass by and do nothing, and you scream and fight with every drop of power, with every piece of strength, with everything, and anything, you realize your life is in danger, tears and blood are all over your face and parts of your body, your clothes are torn in many places..Every part of your body hurts....
and then someone on the window, right behind you, drinking ice tea, sitting on a comfortable chair, relaxing and watching the whole scene right from the beginning opens the window and says: hey, what's the matter of you? Why are you so violent? Let him do it honey! It's a lot of fun, enjoy it, and he will probably pay you good money too!
and you feel stabbed in the back, and his words hurt you so much, you wonder in shock: how is this my fault? How do I let him do it? What is wrong with you? Why aren't you helping me? Why isn't anyone helping me? How do I let him do it? What about my honor, pride and dignity? How am I gonna live and face myself everyday? How am I gonna face my children? How am I gonna face my grandchildren? How am I gonna face the history?
So simple, so tragic.
me*
We talked about violence in Iraq, and I want to share this conversation, along with some recently added thought from me, with all of you...
This person, X, said: I don't believe in violence, I think resistance people in Iraq are wrong, killing is wrong, I can't agree with them, war is wrong I agree, but I think that if resistance people just stop fighting and drop their weapons, then fighting will stop, and people will stop dying, I feel so sad for all Iraqis that are dying...
I had two options, shut up and have an ulcer, or reply, so for health reasons, I decided to talk, and I did, for nearly five hours.
I started with the *who started the war? Who is attacking and who is defending himself? Who is the invader? Who is the one that doesn't have the right to be here? Who's country Iraq is?* well, only in a very detailed way, and then moved to the * The occupation is killing more Iraqis everyday, the occupations is the reason of ALL the killing in the field, there are 60-70 operations against the occupation everyday and a minority of them hurt civilians by mistake and those ones the only attacks you ever hear about in your media, those who target innocent civilians in purpose are not from the resistance: those are terrorists and the only reason they existed, and the only reason they came to Iraq from all over the world is the occupation* well, in details too, and then we reached a part where X said:
I don't care, let the resistance just stop the fight, so many people are getting hurt.
I said: they won't and they shouldn't, and the war isn't their fault, and they didn't choose to make a war, they didn't travel thousands of miles to make a war, they are only defending: defending their countrymen and women, defending their lands, defending their homes, women and children, dignity and pride.
X said: this same pride that you are talking about, made Bush not admit his mistakes and not pull out of Iraq.
I paused...
* Ouch! That was mean! It's a blow under the belt, it doesn't even give you a point! *
and then I said:
Alright, let me put it this way, women might understand it better though:
If someone is trying to rape you, wouldn't you fight back? And then he tries and tries, and you fight and fight and fight, and he insists and you try to hurt him, even if a little to make him go away, you are bleeding, and he tries and hits you, over and over, to make you surrender, your nose is broken, you are screaming in pain, you push and kick, you cry for help, he beats you more and more and more, your tooth is broken, you hit him on the stomach as hard as you could, you see pain on his face, he tries to cover it and look strong, you cant see with your left eye, your throat hurts you because of the screaming, people pass by and do nothing, and you scream and fight with every drop of power, with every piece of strength, with everything, and anything, you realize your life is in danger, tears and blood are all over your face and parts of your body, your clothes are torn in many places..Every part of your body hurts....
and then someone on the window, right behind you, drinking ice tea, sitting on a comfortable chair, relaxing and watching the whole scene right from the beginning opens the window and says: hey, what's the matter of you? Why are you so violent? Let him do it honey! It's a lot of fun, enjoy it, and he will probably pay you good money too!
and you feel stabbed in the back, and his words hurt you so much, you wonder in shock: how is this my fault? How do I let him do it? What is wrong with you? Why aren't you helping me? Why isn't anyone helping me? How do I let him do it? What about my honor, pride and dignity? How am I gonna live and face myself everyday? How am I gonna face my children? How am I gonna face my grandchildren? How am I gonna face the history?
So simple, so tragic.
me*
posted by Khalid at 10:05 AM
55 Comments:
Good Post. But, with all the shit that has happened since 2003 we surely don't need to use something as lame as national honor as an excuse to forcibly deport the Americans, British, and all the other foreign fighters.
Khalid,
I can see your point, but I believe that violence begets more violence. There are examples in history of where a violent force was stopped with non-violence. This does not mean that people will not die in non-violent resistance: it is almost for sure that they will. But if they resist violently, then the violence will continue and grow, and will come back to the persons that started using it against the original violent person or force.
I really do think that the USA would have been kicked out of Iraq in the summer of 2003 if 10 or 15 million (maybe less) Iraqis had gone and sat down every day in the road, holding signs saying "USA GET OUT OF HERE". It would have been safe for foreign press to cover it extensively, and I think Sistani and Sadr could have got the crowds out there.
The road not taken.
The resistance that is fighting US troops now is also bringing heartache to Iraqis, and certainly is confusing the situation (as to what bombs are terrorists and what are resistence). And, when the US/UK forces finally leave, will the violence stop? or will the resistance turn against another group that they feel is taking advantage of them?
It is amazing that there is not more violent resistance in Iraq against the US/UK, all things considered. But I do feel we (humans) have to find another way... mainly I feel this way because in the history of the world, there has never been weapons developed and then not used - and today we have weapons that can wipe nearly all life off of the planet.
As to the comparison to the crime of rape, yes, this violence is like that type of crime. I know from my life and people that I have known that sometimes rape can be stopped with saying something like "I love you" or just yelling or something.... and then there are other sicko men that will rape and murder until someone locks them up for the rest of their lives. Every situation is different, and I have no idea why anyone whould want to commit crimes like that. Someone tried to carry me off to a private part of a park to rape me (in front of my 4 year old nephew) and I just yelled and pulled his arms. He gave up, but he reportedly raped a young girl in the same place a few weeks later. I have no doubt that she went into shock and did nothing, because being attacked like that out of the blue does put you in shock.
People certainly have the right to resist being treated badly in any situation.... but the resistance should be as low key and nonviolent as possible.... for the good of everyone.
Remember, Ghandi kicked the Brits out of India with nonviolence. Then they had a nasty war, but that war would have been worse if Ghandi had used violence.
In the US, we finally ended slavery with a great deal of violence. In the UK, they ended it peacefully. In the US, we got our independence from Britain by using violence. Canada did it peacefully.
I am trying to do all that I can here in the USA to stop this violence against Iraq. We had a meeting with our Senator (19 of us) and her staff person objected to call what was going on in Iraq an occupation. We told him were felt it was an occupation, and that's what we would call it. But you can see what we are up against here - so many Americans really believe this nonsense that Bush and Rice say about freedom and democracy.
I think the best thing that you can do right now is get aid into Iraq and get information out of Iraq. Publish the names and circumstances of people's deaths and injuries. Write up their stories of hardship.
I will send them to the US Senate. I will call the White House and tell them about the stories.
violence, but especially war, is a sickness that turns against you.
The reasons Bush & Cheney & all them got this started is because they have no idea what war is really like. Neither do most American people, sadly.
Our troops will bring this sickness of war home with them in their heads.
It will be years and years, maybe generations, before Iraq recovers from this violence. They have shown amazing strength so far, and I don't know how they do it.
It is maddening that the people who start this evil are not made to pay for their crimes.
.
I just deleted seven comments, No advertisments sorry!
khalid*
oh really. what do the "freedom fighters" gain exactly from murdering primary school teachers? in front of their pupils? this is just the worst example. open your eyes.
starliz
hey friend! listen, turn on WORD VERIFICATION in ur comments part of the blog settings, and u'll get rid of ads once and for all!
happy ramadan, i'm still (believe it or not) stuck here. running around checking universities here and elsewhere for scholarships/assistantships and stuff like that, too friggin difficult. will give it my last shot tomorrow inshallah.
i'll be returning to baghdad in a few days (cant even contemplate waiting more) possibly 1st of ramadan or close enough.. got time to meet again? just wanna say hi and bye and all that! cheers!
salam to all
I find it interesting to see people showing such hatred for the Iraqi resistance and their actions while being totally unable to focus on the unjustness of this war.
It is hypoccritical in its most extreme to support an invasion and then abhor the violence taking place. If you support this war please have the guts not to whine about atrocities. Its like watching a rape and then rating it for violence.
Many in America appear to be caught up in the manufacture and selling of fear, and in so doing have let common sense, dignity and values become a mere secondary emotion or thought.
It is good to see you blogging again.
k- some ideas:
come to DC next time there is a major rally/march and join in....if you are white and born in Canada... skip this if you are from some place like Syria (too dangerous)
write letters to the editors of American papers -write editorials also - particularly good if you have recently visited a small US town
donate and raise funds for Iraqi charities
donate and raise funds for American politicians you respect
donate and raise funds for American organizations who are working for peace and justice
stay aware of what is really happening
Your rape analogy is wrong - a better analogy is that of a big bloke beating up a mouthy little guy. Something like "If you don't shut up I'm going to kick your f**king head in" (Can you tell I'm English...). Still not a justified war but at least you can understand why it happened.
This pro-war/anti-war debate is pointless, at least for Iraqis. Both Blair and Bush have been voted back in since all this started so you might as well give up letter writing and demonstrating and do something constructive with your time. The war has happened, things have changed, it's not going to get sorted unless the Iraqis do it themselves. The US will go once the oil is restored and one of their mates is power. Democracy is only of interest to us if somebody we like gets voted in. But once it is established the US will disappear and you can look after yourselves (as long as you keep the oil flowing...).
My advice to Iraqis, be clever and take what you can while it is available. Put Iraq and Iraqis first, use the West and keep your principles for more enlightened times. "Resisting" when there is a democratic alternative is not going to work I'm afraid. Even if the US go home defeated your country will be a mess, ripe for another nutter to take over.
I don't disagree with an aggrieved nation or people wanting to fight back. That's obvious. The Israelis and Palestinians do it to each other all the time. The point is - does it achieve your objectives? Apart from the Al-Qaeda nutters who clearly have no rational objectives, the rest of the resistance, i would guess, want to take some level of control over the country. At present there is a choice of democracy. Why not put your energies behind that? When there is not that choice I can understand and would support armed resistance e.g. Burma, North Korea.
I doubt the US/UK ever intended to possess Iraq, but sure they want to protect oil supplies. So why not take control of it and sell it!!! Supposedly Iraq has the largest oil reserves outside of Saudi. What else can they do with it other than sell it and improve the quality of life for their people?
Iraq needs some sensible leaders who understand the ways of the world. As I said before, they have a great opportunity, although I'm not surprised in the least that it is not clear to those living in Iraq or closely associated to them. They must put the future of Iraq and Iraqis above their understandable anger towards the US and UK if they want to become a successful nation.
good to see you blogging again!
"TRuth about Iraqis" blogger lived in Texas and was hit by the hurricane.
I hope she is alright.
Mar7aba ya Khalid,
Best wishes for a health and happiness!
Happy Ramadan!
Cram it Schuster! Iraqis have a right to defend themselves against the Coalition who have invaded and mutilated Iraq.
Jeffrey as usual you are full of shit. Any resistance is legitimate and if anyone is killed is GWB's and etc's fault as they invaded Iraq. If Iraq were not invaded then there would be no resistance.
As Khalid lives in Iraq and is a citizen? of Iraq he is Iraqi even if he were not born there.
I like the analogy you made. I agree that any nation has the right to defend itself against any invader. But I don't agree with the means the insergency has used. I don't like it when people say "Oh, terrorism is bad, but the US shouldn't have been in Iraq in the first place." That's not an excuse to blow up civilians. An arguement of victimhood doesn't really hold water if you support what the insurgency is doing.
Khalid,
happy you survived your ordeal, and that you started posting again.
@ Anonymous, 10/04/2005 04:38:35 PM.
You wrote: "That's not an excuse to blow up civilians. An arguement of victimhood doesn't really hold water if you support what the insurgency is doing".
My dear thing, maybe you are slightly (oh most slightly, oh most slightly, oh when lighting a cigarette...) influenced by US propaganda. Are you quite sure it is "the insurgency" (i.e., the Iraqi patriotic resistance) doing it?
Did you ever wonder that maybe this Ghost Zarqawi has got nothing at all to do with the patriotic Iraqi resistance?
Did you ever wonder that maybe slaughtering civilians on purpose wouldn't be very intelligent on the part of the genuine Iraqi resistance? ('Oh yeah, but them are eeevil, irrational Ay-rabs, so they may be crazy, who knows?', sayz you).
Do you, happy US 'anonymous', know anything at all about some terrorist, blowing up civilians, called Luis Posada Carriles (you do not? then, please, google it).
Ever heard, 'anonymous', about 'false flag operations', about 'counter-gangs', about 'dirty wars', and, especially, about 'psy-ops'?
Now, my naive friend, do please google the lot, and save us from the embarassment of your silly comments.
True blue eagle, apart from the bit about the oil. Oil is the basis of our way of life here in the West whether we like it (I don't) or not.
"Any resistance is legitimate and if anyone is killed is GWB's and etc's fault as they invaded Iraq. If Iraq were not invaded then there would be no resistance." - that is a really helpful, constructive comment Janice. OK, it's the Yanks fault. Now what??? Keep killing? Thank god for the Shias - they are being blown to pieces by somebody ("an italian" will tell us who) but, so far, they are resisting the tempation to shit all over everyone else and, rather than blaming everyone, are making a go of democracy. How long will the "patriotic resistance" allow that to happen before they drag them down to their level?
who started the war? Saddam
Put down the crack pipe. You do know who was flying those planes? How did Saddam start the war in your alternate universe?
ac blue eagle,
I always wondered what rubbish war supporters told themselves in order to sleep at night. Yours doesn't even pass the straight face test.
"Give me a break again. If a GI screws up and kills the wrong person, that GI can get in trouble. Some have."
and how would we know, since no one is noting or counting the Iraqi civilians killed by Americans? Name one US soldier that got some punishment for killing a civilian, outside the US-run Iraqi prisons, where they killed them (via torture) to get information?
"If you don't agree with the terrorists, they kill you. No discussion, no comment. They kill you."
Same for US bombs and bullets
Susan
"Who is the one that doesn't have the right to be here? Those who would deny all Iraqis the right to choose their own government."
I remember in June 2005 sitting in a US Senate Armed Services Committee meeting where Senators Collins and Levin both said that the Iraqis had to get their constitution done on time, or else there would be "consequences" for them. I remember the US picking the "Governing Council" and the interim government in Iraq. And they have had a great deal to say about who and how Iraqis run the current government, which currently does not get to say who goes to jail and who gets out of jail. These facts would argue that the current Iraqi "government" is not sovereign at all.
I agree with you that the US/UK does not have the right to be there at all.
Susan
Khalid --
First of all, welcome back!
Good to hear from you again; I was rather missing your fun posts.
I see your personal foot attendant “J” has already left childish obscenities for you at IBC, just so that you can feel at home. It’s really like old times, heh, heh.
Half of the fun of reading your posts is imagining the froth that that loser and his friends get into after they read them. The truth bites deep, my friend.
Dancewater –
“I really do think that the USA would have been kicked out of Iraq in the summer of 2003 if 10 or 15 million (maybe less) Iraqis had gone and sat down every day in the road, holding signs saying "USA GET OUT OF HERE". It would have been safe for foreign press to cover it extensively, and I think Sistani and Sadr could have got the crowds out there.”
Dancewater, I do agree with you that a non violent response would be the most moral option.
But let’s be honest here: protests have been tried, and they were met with violence. The incident that kicked off the violence in Fallujah, where 16 Iraqis were killed and scores injured, was the violent response by US troops to a non violent protest.
Sadr managed to gather at least 300 000 supporters in a HUGE anti occupation rally in Firdous square, and it hardly made a blip on the radar. The only successful protest that happened was the Sistani / Sadr one to force elections. And that was successful because of three reasons – the simmering anger that threatened future violence, the sheer scale of them and the fact that ‘elections’ did not mean ejection or an end to US interference in Iraq, it merely meant a shift in the rules of the game.
[dance] “violence, but especially war, is a sickness that turns against you.”
In the end, if peaceful protest does not work, what option is left? I have found out in life that unfortunately violence IS sometimes the answer, and that it is better to fight back than to submit.
It is more than obvious that apart from maybe the Kurds, all the other Iraqis don’t really want the US there. As clear as day from every poll I have seen. The US govt. understands this, yet remains. This tells me that they are determined to use force to achieve an outcome favourable to them.
[k] “My question is, what can the bystander countries like Canada do in this case? Any one of us who picks up a newspaper knows that terrible things are happening and we have to do something to stop it now, but how do we even start?”
Two things. Spread the message of what is happening, and boycott US products. Drink water instead of Coke, for example. The second option is a little harsh on those Americans that DON’T support he war, but in the end, the message must be gotten through that there are unhealthy repercussions to this sort of behaviour.
Tony --
Your position is obviously rational and thought out. Yet, I tend to disagree.
The ‘democratic’ process has proven itself to be anything but. Apart from all the ‘anonymous’ candidates and so forth, apart from the lack of policy debate, apart from the voter confusion as to who and what they are voting for … one must also factor in the US efforts at manipulating and controlling the outcome. 200 million dollars were spent on punting Allawi as the new puppet in chief as well as huge airtime. Outright bribery has been attempted in other cases.
I’m sorry, but as long as Iraq is under occupation, the ‘democratic process’ is a dead end disguised as the road to freedom.
[tony] “I doubt the US/UK ever intended to possess Iraq, but sure they want to protect oil supplies. So why not take control of it and sell it!!!”
At first glance, you seem correct. But the devil is in the details.
WHO is going to rebuild the oil sector? Who is going to pump and ship the stuff? That’s right, big US oil companies, companies that work hand in glove with US govt. Is it any surprise that moves are afoot to destroy Iraqi oil workers unions? If US companies steal oil by misstating oil output, who’s to know? And if they were caught, what recourse do Iraqis have? Google Executive Order 13303 to check out the carte blanche Bush has given his chums in the oil business to loot Iraq. They are effectively IMMUNE from prosecution. And you can betcha that if Halliburton steals from America, that they will RAPE Iraq.
And, if one factors in the rest of the ‘reconstruction’ the ultimate aim is to make Iraq a client state dependent on US imports to keep electricity, water and sewage etc. functioning. Dependent not by choice - since no sovereign Iraqi govt. ever signed those deals – but by force.
[Talldave] “Who's country Iraq is? It finally belongs to the Iraqis, thanks to the United States.”
Do they come any dumber than this?
AC Blue Eagle --
[acbe] “It is a world wide war, Muslims against the world…”
ROTFLMFAO.
There are a couple of BILLION Muslims who are holding their hands despite your crusade in the Middle East. You really want a worldwide conflagration? This is nothing. My concern is that the idiotic antics of the US at the moment are pushing the Muslim mainstream into thinking that there really is some ‘master plan’ to ‘get’ them. If that moment comes, let me assure you, it will suck big time.
(The REAL problem that the US has with Muslims is that they are squatting on Halliburton’s oil. Goddamn, how did all them Ay-rabs get there?)
You are now just a boring blogger.
I changed my mind after reading your post again!
you're still interesting
thank you for blogging khalid
ac blue eagle I feel your frustration.
The US is spending more than 200 billion dollars a year to save the Iraqi people from terrorists and an evil dictator while putting their soldiers lives on the line. All in an effort to show their love and concern for the Iraqi(muslim) people who are waging a genocidal terror campaign against the west.
The Bush administration is even willing to deliver Iraq to the "axis of evil" Iranian government so they can develop a stronger Shia alliance, all in the name of fighting terrorism.
He has even formed alliances with the Kurds and their PKK terrorist affiliates in order to fight terrorism.
Mr. Bush is clearly a visionary who's not going to be intimidated by these terrorists who are trying to destroy your freedom. No, he will be defeated by his ridiculous delusional paranoia that seems to be worsening each day. Us citizens need to be afraid, but I don't think its muslim extremism they need to fear. After Bush's speech today and the recall of Karl Rove to testify before a grand jury for the fourth time, the American public might start to see who's really running this asylum.
These people are truly the most self-destructive losers the world has ever seen. Unbelievable. The "war" was over in just about a month. If it had not been for the resistance, noone else had been killed and the US forces had been home by now. The only reason there are US forces in Iraq now is the resistance.
Btw, isn't it funny that these anti-American whiners are now in the USA waiting for their Green Cards?
But let’s be honest here: protests have been tried, and they were met with violence. The incident that kicked off the violence in Fallujah, where 16 Iraqis were killed and scores injured, was the violent response by US troops to a non violent protest. -bruno
People do die from non-violent protests.... after all, they are protesting violent people and the fact that they use violence to achieve their ends!
And non-violence takes much, much, much longer..... but look at how the Brits ended slavery vs how the USA did it.... and think about the after-effects of how the USA ended slavery, which went on for many years. And think about how Canada got it's independence vs. the USA. And the after-effects of that.
It seems that often the seeds of the next war are sown while fighting the current one.
Of course, a lot of the seeds of war in the USA is sown by fear-mongering, not by a true threat or attack..... communism was presented as a serious threat all my life (50 years) and really it wasn't a threat to my life or way of life at all besides the Cuban missle crisis, which the USA started up.
Now we are supposed to have endless war because a groups of murderers (who numbered less than 3,000 in 2001) killed some of our people on 9/11! And no one is supposed to notice that good police work and investigation is what will stop murderers like these... of course, you have to be awake and informed in order to do this.
But this fear-mongering really does make nice profits for the military-industrial complex, no?
Welcome back, Khalid.
What do you make of the US bombing bridges? They were claimed to be to disrupt terrorist movements - but a blogger on dailykos pointed out they could just as well have been to disrupt Sunni voting in the upcoming election.
BTW, will you be able to vote from Jordan?
I understand your point of view about resisting in an emotional sense, but wouldn't it be to Iraqi's advantage at this point to form a government and accelerate the process of getting the US out?
Dear Khalid,
1) should a person defend his ideals such as honor, pride and dignity by behaving in a way that is dishonorable, undignified and shameful? if so, what has he gained?
2) men who strive to hold or gain power manipulate the idealistic young (men) to do their dirty work. These young people are known as soldiers, freedom fighters, insurgents, etc.
3) if a husband forces sex on his wife, is it rape? if women followed the logic of your rape analogy, there would be a lot of dead husbands. Women are raped all the time and they do not kill the rapist or drop dead from shame. Your sentiments reveal a cultural bias and naivety.
that said, I do like your family's blogs and appreciate what I learn from them. I may often disagree with you, but I think you are all trying, like most of us, to make sense of and live in this crazy world.
Hi,
Ive been following the blogs of a few Iraqis since not so long ago. Makes some of my problems seem very very small in comparison. Its really disturbing cos everytime i share a special moment with my family..share a few laughs..I wonder how many people in Iraq have been denied the same because of the views and votes of Americans. I feel guilty because I havent done anything besides feeling sorry.
To the person who criticises the green card aspirants,
The philosophy here is "If you cant beat them, join them". The only place that is truly safe from Bush is America! The people hoping to get a green card are coming there for a better life...the same life that was denied to them. Its just by a stroke of luck that you have been born in America. But every human on this planet has a right to make his family's life better.
To the person who supports war, try imagining a huge thug, armed, breaks into ur house, screws ur wife, kills ur kids and gets away with it...THAT is what is happening in Iraq and you are the thug. This is inhuman and is not justified jus because you are not at the recieving end of it.
To the person who thinks that American army has gone to the middle east to LIBERATE,
So when are you planning to take on Saudi Arabia?
You should read the latest blog from 'A star from mosul'. She is only 15. It pains me to see what we are making our kids go through. And we are supposed to protect them from everything that is bad.
To the majority of civilised America, Please do something to stop this insanity.
I am from a country that is not involved in the war in any way...but that doesnt justify my inaction. If you're american there is still a lot more that you can do.
Sahir/Linky/Pancho/ Billy Boy/ Hamid/ Iraqi accountant etc. etc. is a liar and feigns his own disappearence/death about once a year. They are still mourning him at 'Today In Iraq'.
Susan, the Quaker, actually has a friday "remembrance" for him even though he has turns up repeatedly in other venues. He's a charlatan and a user. Stay away from him.
How could I not "resist" after reading so many sincere and thought provoking comments.
Of course, the one prob with revenge is when some slimey little cretin working for some special forces operation or another orchestrates an act of violence under an innocent parties identity in order to swing a backlash.
You know, like when anonymous goes about posting obscenities in other more decent netizens names till someone else starts calling for heads on platters. What the "resistance" really needs is not so much explosives as a very bright torch to shine on anon and expose him, shadowless and naked, catch him in the act as he pokes about trying to fire up emotive response. There will be no need to disembowel him once caught, for it will become painfully obvious that he has no spleen of his own anyway and debateably no heart either.
Once the culprit's deeds are known there will be no need for armies.
Keep posting the truth!
shutureed mini...ya *7alid...begad...
I don't take back what was said- At what point does pride kill a people, at what point does pride ruin a country? My country, not yours. I can't bring myself to accept that people are dying in Iraq when they don't have to. I think that the Iraqi peoples anger is more then justified, and you know that I would never argue to the contrary. But, I don't see the future of the Iraqi people being improved through this resistance. Perhaps we consider the future of Iraq in very, very different ways- maybe the underlying problem is that what lies in our hearts as the future of Iraq is so different, that there is no wonder there is no agreement on the way...
Ramadan Kareem, ya sadiq...
Francisco
What masters? America has done nothing but give. We show up with nothing in our pockets. The US says:
YOu want a job? Here take a job
YOu want to send your kids to school? Here send them to school.
You are sick? Here go to this hospital.
You want to worship in peace? Here go to church w/o fear.
You of all people should know the generosity of the U.S. Every year thousands of your people come to the U.S. to work and make money for their families, and yet here you are bad mouthing the country that lets them come. Money from relatives in the U.S. is one of the highest sources of income for your country, so show some gratitude.
All the US has ever asked from my family is that we obey the law and pay taxes. A very small price for freedom. Voting for George Bush in 2000 and 2004 made me very proud to be a real American.
Why do you fear my words? Because they are not in line with Arab propaganda? The Arabs have two choices. Live like rational human beings, or blowing people up.
No other country besides the U.S. would sacrifice over 2000 of its own troops, not to mention all those who were maimed, burned, etc., so that other people can have a chance at freedom. And how do the Arabs act? WIth terrorism.
FOrtunatly the Kurds and Christians in Iraq have shown a better way, and it is they that deserve the friendship of the U.S.
i hardly beleive that, sorry, but the USA is hardly as open as you would like it to appear.
ANON. Glad you pointed out to Francisco his misguided thoughts on the beautiful USA. This poor nation whose own people by majority no longer support the war, Must endure this truth as wellas that of most of its closest allies.
All the US has ever tried to do was bring peace and security to the world and now peoples of the g;obe have rebelled. The alliance is shrinking, there is 152 000 US troops on the ground. WHY WHY WHY can't the people of the world understand what Bush is trying to do?
Or then again maybe your the one who's got it wrong.
Clearly the US has always carried the best interests of its neighbours in the Americas. Whether it be through the tolerance of illegal immigrants or invasion and installation of puppet regimes and dictators the US has lovingly looked after the poor of the region. Providing jobs on plantations, loans for infrastructure at impossible interest and military assistance. One day the peoples of the region will appreciate it. Perhaps when they reach the US.
Until then Americans will just have to continue plodding along trying to bring some sanity to this crazy world. How much more can a country take? Perhaps soon the US will realise these ungrateful nations should be left alone to suffer in peace.
Hey Pietro that above post on the US that you commented on was by me.
Glad someone else is greatful for the wonderful opportunities given by the US and its people.
Yousef Tauq
Sahir/Linky/Pancho/ Billy Boy/ Hamid/ Iraqi accountant etc. etc. is a liar and feigns his own disappearence/death about once a year. They are still mourning him at 'Today In Iraq'.
Susan, the Quaker, actually has a friday "remembrance" for him even though he has turns up repeatedly in other venues. He's a charlatan and a user. Stay away from him.-zachary
None of these people is "Not Anonymous" who used to post on Today in Iraq, and for whom I stated a Friday rememberance. That much I know for sure, since Not Anonymous had his own style of writing and his own viewpoint.
I do the rememberance of Not Anonymous because I think he is (was) a remarkable man and I hope he comes back to comment again. I suspect that Not Anonymous is (was) doing things that I would not support or approve of at all.
He never faked a death at the Today in Iraq blog, he just quit posting.
Susan,
You are a kind soul, very much like my friend. What he is doing is wrong and inappropriate. Please don't help him. You are wrong about some things. He is a brilliant person who we all agree with politically. However, he is presenting a false persona, he is married and not free to make 'connections.'
K
Nevermind. My purpose is only to remind people to keep their mind on what is important. Ending this war is important. Don't get caught up in personalities. Don't.
Kevin
Yousef –
“Glad someone else is greatful for the wonderful opportunities given by the US and its people.”
Yes, you’re right. There’s a lot of opportunity in America. That’s not my, and other people’s problem. Our problem is – at WHO’S EXPENSE does that opportunity come from. That’s the reason for the outrage.
Dancewater --
Dancewater, I have it from good sources that Not is fine. So relax. And what Kevin says is true. Stick to the issues, not the people. While he was quite the personality, we feel the lack of his outstanding research skills rather more.
I admire the vigorous job that you do on the boards, btw.
This is an EXCELLENT article and analysis of the effect of the so-called “El Salvador Option” being implemented by the US on Iraq. It covers the formation of the death squads, as well as disinformation used to redirect interpretation and blame for various mass killings. This is reminiscent of the Phoenix Programme in Vietnam.
Check this out:
http://globalresearch.ca/articles/FUL506A.html
Shannon, you might be specifically interested.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Great blog! I cross posted it on my own blog along with some commentary. Hope Bush has to pay for what he's done!
I'm sorry, Shannon. You are one of the 'enlightened', if one may put it so. It's actually the sheeple that need to read and understand.
"What he is doing is wrong and inappropriate. Please don't help him. You are wrong about some things. He is a brilliant person who we all agree with politically. However, he is presenting a false persona, he is married and not free to make 'connections.'"
Agreed anon. What he has done is entirely unethical, thus bouts of self doubt and despondency prevail. People who are smart intellectually and emotionally are rare and people who are both and vocal are rarer still. Unfortunately the downside of these visionary people is that they end up corrupting their own souls more then anything else which is a great pity for all the good they hope to do is very often undone by reality. Read and weep for you cannot cry over unwritten injustice in public. Or write and smile, it would be unseemly to find joy in true pain.
Better still stick to the facts anon and drop the manipulative mein. Otherwise you'll end up boiled in your own pretend vat.
Long life to the real truth, as seen from the river.
Sticking to facts is all very well, but facts mean nothing if there are no people to present them. The internets would be a dull and lifeless void were people to avoid personalities. Which is why anonymous's sham chameleon act is such a drag - he has no personality of his own he just borrows.
“Your sentiments reveal a cultural bias and naivety.”
– Anon 0/08/2005 02:02:28 PM
That’s like so below the belt. Everyone knows what an empathetically nonjudgmental individual Khalid is and how extraordinarily approachable he is despite having lived in the midst of carnage for the best part of the last three years.
Myself am not into shooting and blowing up things and feel the insurgency would make itself more popular if it re-possessed an oilwell and started giving away fuel for generators free in the gasoline markets so that more Iraqis could fire up their electricity and get onlion to tell the truth but aside from all that I completely understand the desire to punch a thug back even if I don’t condone it.
I imagine capitalists profiteering from the black market would be unhappy if Robyn Hood I mean Niqab showed up undercutting the monopoly on kero and what have you but so be it.
This invasion of Iraq... much like Iraq's invasion of Kuwait... has started yet another cycle of violence. True enough. But we're kidding ourselves if we believe that any overthrow of Saddam's tyranny, by whatever means, wouldn't have touched off a spree of killing and bombings by those who would be losing the privileges of power. A 30-year grip on an ethnically diverse country does not come loose easily. Throw in Sunni hardliners and the fun is just starting to happen. The only thing the US did was unleash the demons.
very well said. i stumbled onto your blog via a friend (http://www.liadain.com/) & am thankful I did.
someone earlier said the Iraqis should stop the violence because democracy is a more peaceful alternative as a way to get the US out.. this idea that democracy can be brought by the barrel of a gun is ludricious. or even that this "Democracy" has a fair chance with an occupying nation.
i don't mean to add more debate to your long list of commentors, I just wanted to say "keep on writing".
The least we can do is to intend very strongly with allour hearts that ,that the horror that is taking place in Iraq,has got over,soon very soon.
063.009 O ye who believe! Let not your wealth nor your children distract you from
remembrance of Allah. Those who do so, they are the losers.
063.010 And spend of that wherewith We have provided you before death cometh
unto one of you and he saith: My Lord! If only thou wouldst reprieve me for a little
while, then I would give alms and be among the righteous.
063.011 But Allah reprieveth no soul when its term cometh, and Allah is Informed of
what ye do.
064.001 All that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth glorifieth Allah; unto
Him belongeth Sovereignty and unto Him belongeth praise, and He is Able to do all
things.
064.002 He it is Who created you, but one of you is a disbeliever and one of you is a
believer, and Allah is Seer of what ye do.
064.003 He created the heavens and the earth with truth, and He shaped you and
made good your shapes, and unto Him is the journeying.
064.004 He knoweth all that is in the heavens and the earth, and He knoweth what ye
conceal and what ye publish. And Allah is Aware of what is in the breasts (of men).
064.005 Hath not the story reached you of those who disbelieved of old and so did
taste the ill-effects of their conduct, and theirs will be a painful doom.
064.006 That was because their messengers (from Allah) kept coming unto them with
clear proofs (of Allah's Sovereignty), but they said: Shall mere mortals guide us ? So
they disbelieved and turned away, and Allah was independent (of them). Allah is
Absolute, Owner of Praise.
064.007 Those who disbelieve assert that they will not be raised again. Say (unto
them, O Muhammad): Yea, verily, by my Lord! ye will be raised again and then ye
will be informed of what ye did; and that is easy for Allah.
064.008 So believe in Allah and His messenger and the light which We have
revealed. And Allah is Informed of what ye do.
064.009 The day when He shall gather you unto the Day of Assembling, that will be a
day of mutual disillusion. And whoso believeth in Allah and doeth right, He will
remit from him his evil deeds and will bring him unto Gardens underneath which
rivers flow, therein to abide for ever. That is the supreme triumph.
064.010 But those who disbelieve and deny Our revelations, such are owners of the
Fire; they will abide therein - a hapless journey's end!
064.011 No calamity befalleth save by Allah's leave. And whosoever believeth in
Allah, He guideth his heart. And Allah is Knower of all things.
064.012 Obey Allah and obey His messenger; but if ye turn away, then the duty of
Our messenger is only to convey (the message) plainly.
064.013 Allah! There is no God save Him. In Allah, therefore, let believers put their
trust.
064.014 O ye who believe! Lo! among your wives and your children there are
enemies for you, therefor beware of them. And if ye efface and overlook and forgive,
then lo! Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.
064.015 Your wealth and your children are only a temptation, whereas Allah! with
Him is an immense reward.
064.016 So keep your duty to Allah as best ye can, and listen, and obey, and spend;
that is better for your souls. And whoso is saved from his own greed, such are the
successful.
064.017 If ye lend unto Allah a goodly loan, He will double it for you and will
forgive you, for Allah is Responsive, Clement,
064.018 Knower of the Invisible and the Visible, the Mighty, the Wise.
065.001 O Prophet! When ye (men) put away women, put them away for their (legal)
period and reckon the period, and keep your duty to Allah, your Lord. Expel them not
from their houses nor let them go forth unless they commit open immorality. Such are
the limits (imposed by) Allah; and whoso transgresseth Allah's limits, he verily
wrongeth his soul. Thou knowest not: it may be that Allah will afterward bring some
I am an Australian. I would like to comment on your postings, tell you how I feel and what I think. But by the beggining of the new year that would be a crime in Australia.
The Australian people overwhelmingly reject the War in Iraq. We held the biggest protest rallies in our national history to tell our government that what they were doing:sending troops and supporting the invasion; was evil.
The government ignored the voice of its citizens. And now it has decided to outlaw the voice of its citizens.
Come 2006 the Australian goverment will make it a criminal offence to voice solidarity with the Iraq people who wish to remove the invaders.
Post a Comment
<< Home