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  • War Against Iraq: Critical Resources

    Загружено:

    Michael Keefer
    698 просмотров120 страниц
    This anthology was prepared in the period between November 2002 and early March 2003. I had been speaking out publicly against the sanctions imposed upon Iraq, the bombing of Iraq (under cover of the U.S.-led imposition of “no-fly zones”), and the open criminality of U.S.-U.K. plans for an invasion of Iraq: this collection of short excerpts emerged out of a determination to ensure that my statements rested upon careful analysis of the best available primary and critical sources. I shared early versions of it by email with colleagues in a number of universities in Canada, the U.K., and the U.S., and posted the final version under my name on the University of Guelph's server—from which it was deleted, without consultation, in late 2003. It had in the mean time been reproduced on at least one U.S. website). FAIR USE NOTICE: This dossier contains excerpts from copyrighted material the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. These materials are made available on this page, without profit, to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the information contained here for research and educational purposes; they are included here in the belief that this constitutes fair use of any such copyrighted material as provided for in 17 U.S. C § 107. Anyone wishing to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes that extend beyond fair use should obtain permission from the copyright owners.

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    This anthology was prepared in the period between November 2002 and early March 2003. I had been speaking out publicly against the sanctions imposed upon Iraq, the bombing of Iraq (under cover of the U.S.-led imposition of “no-fly zones”), and the open criminality of U.S.-U.K. plans for an invasion of Iraq: this collection of short excerpts emerged out of a determination to ensure that my statements rested upon careful analysis of the best available primary and critical sources. I shared early versions of it by email with colleagues in a number of universities in Canada, the U.K., and the U.S., and posted the final version under my name on the University of Guelph's server—from which it was deleted, without consultation, in late 2003. It had in the mean time been reproduced on at least one U.S. website). FAIR USE NOTICE: This dossier contains excerpts from copyrighted material the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. These materials are made available on this page, without profit, to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the information contained here for research and educational purposes; they are included here in the belief that this constitutes fair use of any such copyrighted material as provided for in 17 U.S. C § 107. Anyone wishing to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes that extend beyond fair use should obtain permission from the copyright owners.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    698 просмотров120 страниц

    War Against Iraq: Critical Resources

    Загружено:

    Michael Keefer
    This anthology was prepared in the period between November 2002 and early March 2003. I had been speaking out publicly against the sanctions imposed upon Iraq, the bombing of Iraq (under cover of the U.S.-led imposition of “no-fly zones”), and the open criminality of U.S.-U.K. plans for an invasion of Iraq: this collection of short excerpts emerged out of a determination to ensure that my statements rested upon careful analysis of the best available primary and critical sources. I shared early versions of it by email with colleagues in a number of universities in Canada, the U.K., and the U.S., and posted the final version under my name on the University of Guelph's server—from which it was deleted, without consultation, in late 2003. It had in the mean time been reproduced on at least one U.S. website). FAIR USE NOTICE: This dossier contains excerpts from copyrighted material the use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. These materials are made available on this page, without profit, to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the information contained here for research and educational purposes; they are included here in the belief that this constitutes fair use of any such copyrighted material as provided for in 17 U.S. C § 107. Anyone wishing to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes that extend beyond fair use should obtain permission from the copyright owners.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    1

    [ThisanthologywaspreparedintheperiodbetweenNovember2002andearlyMarch2003.Ihadbeenspeaking
    out publicly against the sanctions imposed upon Iraq, the bombing of Iraq (under cover of the U.S.led
    impositionofnoflyzones),andtheopencriminalityofU.S.U.K.plansforaninvasionofIraq:thiscollection
    ofshortexcerptsemergedoutofadeterminationtoensurethatmystatementsresteduponcarefulanalysisof
    the bestavailable primaryand criticalsources. I sharedearly versionsof itby emailwith colleaguesin a
    numberofuniversitiesinCanada,theU.K.,andtheU.S.,andpostedthefinalversionundermynameonthe
    UniversityofGuelph'sserverfromwhichitwasdeleted,withoutconsultation,inlate2003.Ithadinthemean
    timebeenreproducedonatleastoneU.S.website).]

    [Index:USaggression,mediacriticism,Iraq,Afghanistan,Palestine]
    [Date:April2003]

    WARAGAINSTIRAQ:
    CRITICALRESOURCES

    Editedby
    MichaelKeefer

    March2003

    Contents
    Preface

    1.Theprincipleofuniversalism

    47

    2.WhatisTerrorism?

    710

    3.WesternWarCrimes,19912003
    (a)ThebombingofIraqinthe1991GulfWarwascriminal
    (b)Theuseofdepleteduraniummunitionswascriminal
    (c)SanctionsagainstIraqconstitutedawarcrime
    (d)TheU.S./U.K.noflyzonesinIraqconstitutedawarcrime

    11
    1113
    1318
    1821

    4.U.S./U.K.WarCrimesinthe2003AttackonIraq
    (a)Preemptivewar(i.e.unprovokedattack)isawarcrime
    (b)Thebombingofciviliansisawarcrime
    (c)U.S.useofchemicalweaponswouldbeawarcrime
    (d)Theresponsibilitiesofoccupyingpowers

    2124
    2430
    3032
    3234

    5.WeaponsofMassDestruction:DidIraqposeathreattopeaceandsecurity?
    (a)TheevidenceofIraqsdisarmament
    3439
    (b)ThesourcesofIraqspre1991WMDprogram
    3940
    (c)U.S.useofweaponsofmassdestruction
    4042
    6.DecodingU.S.andU.K.Propaganda
    (a)KeystatementsoftheU.S.andU.K.position
    (b)ResponsestoBushandPowell
    (c)ResponsestoBlair
    (d)ThescandalofBlairsplagiarizedDossier
    (e)AnotherBritishforgery:uraniumfromNiger
    (f)Oldwhoppers:murderedincubatorbabies(1990),265,000

    42
    4345
    4548
    4849
    4951

    3
    IraqitroopsmassedontheSaudiborder(1991),the
    supposedattempttoassassinateGeorgeBushI(1993)
    (g)Newerlies:IraqssupposedexpulsionoftheUNSCOM
    weaponsinspectors(1998)
    (h)Recentfictions:IraqilinkswithalQaeda
    (i)Recentfictions:thethreatofIraqsweaponry
    (j)Attemptstomanipulateanddistorttheweaponsinspectors
    report

    5254
    5456
    56
    5657
    57

    7.IstheUnitedStatesaRogueState?

    5863

    8.WarforOil

    6367

    9.TheWaronTerrorism
    (a)EthicalironiesoftheWaronTerrorism
    (b)ConsequencesoftheWaronTerrorism
    (c)9/11asanopportunityfortheU.S.government(andthe
    ProjectfortheNewAmericanCentury[PNAC]Report)
    (d)Manipulationsofpublicfear
    10.TheattackonAfghanistananditsconsequences
    (a)Wasthewarlegitimate?
    (b)HasthewarbeenasuccessinU.S.terms?
    (c)Whathaveitspoliticalandhumanitarian
    consequencesbeen?
    (d)WarcrimescommittedagainstTalibanprisonersofwar

    6769
    6972
    7275
    7577

    7778
    7881
    8183
    8385

    11.WarcrimesinPalestine

    8592

    12.LargerContextsoftheAttackonIraq:SomeRecentStudies

    9294

    13.WhatIsToBeDone?

    9498

    Preface

    4
    This dossier contains excerpts from recent readings on the subject of events
    whichforme,asformanyotherpeople,havebeenasourceofanguish.Mygoalin
    preparingithasbeentoassembleacoherentlyorganizedbodyofmaterialthatmakes
    clear the relevant historical facts, that exposes the many deliberate falsehoods and
    distortionscirculatedbytheAmericanandBritishgovernmentsandbytheiralliesinthe
    corporate mass media, and that provides strong examples of sceptical, historically
    responsibleandethicallygroundedinterventionsinwhatwemustrecognizeasamatter
    oflifeanddeathforhundredsofthousandsofchildren,womenandmen.(Myownbrief
    contributionsareprintedinitalics.Ihaveinallcasesindicatedsources,usuallyinthe
    formofinternetaddresses.)
    CertainkindsoftextsdealingwithIraqandrelatedsubjectshavebeenexcluded
    fromthisselection.
    Writers who make a virtue of amoral irrationalism and loudly repeat known
    falsehoodsarenotrepresentedhere.Foraminorexampleofthegenre,seeRexMurphy,
    9/11wasthesmokinggun,boys,TheGlobeandMail(February8,2003):A19.
    Writerswhomistakeacowardlyandunethical Realpolitik forpoliticalwisdom
    arenotrepresentedhere.SeeforinstanceJ.L.Granatstein,Whygotowar?Because
    wehaveto,NationalPost(February20,2003):A18.Thishistoriansstrongestreason
    forsupportingtheBushregimesaggressionsisthatCanadasharesacontinentwiththe
    UnitedStatesandwewillpayheavilyifwedonotsupportourneighbour.
    Writerswhosepretenseofjudiciousbalanceexcludesanyseriousconsideration
    of facts, ethics and international law are not represented here. This tendency is
    exemplifiedbyThomasHomerDixon,War:Whichwaytoturn?TheGlobeandMail
    (February8,2003):A17.ThebalanceofthisdirectoroftheUniversityofTorontos
    CentrefortheStudyofPeaceandConflictisindistinguishablefromhypocrisy:heis
    againstwar,butonly,itseems,forthemoment.Tobuildlegitimacyforactionagainst
    Iraqwemustbuildasbroadaninternationalconsensusbehindwaraspossible.
    My hope is that the materials I have chosen may provide a useful basis for
    discussion and debate. I believe it is important to move beyond feelings of private
    anguishandtotakeourdemandsforjusticeandforpeacefirmlyintothepublicsphere.
    Subcomandante Marcos of the Zapatistas (whose words reappear at greater
    lengthattheendoftheseexcerpts)isrightinidentifyingthepresentmomentasonein
    whichnohonestmanorwomancanremainsilentandindifferent.
    MichaelKeefer
    Toronto,February28,2003

    1.Theprincipleofuniversalism
    Arefusaltojudgeonesownactionsbythesamestandardsofmoralityor
    legalityoneappliestoothersisacommonhumanfailingbutonethatinrecent
    yearshasbeenespeciallyevidentinAmericanpoliticaldiscourse.Americanshave

    5
    beentaughtbymediapunditstothinkoftheircountryassomehowstandingoutside
    thestructuresofsocioeconomiccausalityandpoliticalcalculationthatcharacterize
    thebehaviourandthehistoryofothercountries.Inthisview,theUnitedStatesisthe
    culmination of a worldhistorical narrative of material progress and human
    liberation,andthereforeanexceptiontotherulesthatconditionthebehaviourof
    otherstates,andauniquelymoralagentinworldpolitics.(Tobetheendpointofa
    storyisinsomesensetoescapefromthestory:theNewJerusalemortheCityon
    aHillisnotacitylikeanyothercity,andtheLast,BestHopeofHumankindis
    notanationstatelikeanyothernationstate.)
    Whethermythsofthissortlegitimizeapoliticsofegalitarianemancipation,of
    arrogantcomplacency,orofvehementreactiondependsverylargelyonwhetherthis
    last, best hope is represented as something still to be actualized, as already
    realized,orasunderthreat(forexample,byterror).Butexceptionalisminany
    formcontradictstheprincipleofuniversalismthatisthebasisbothofinternational
    lawandofanycoherentethics.
    Writings by Uri Avnery, Noam Chomsky, Harold Pinter, Edward Said,
    StephenShalomandMichaelAlbert,NormanSolomon,andHansvonSponeckare
    excerptedinthissection.
    []humanrightsviolationsandthebreachofinternationaltreatiesbythe
    Iraqiregimeinnowayabsolvetheinternationalcommunityoftheirobligation
    tomaintainethical,moralandlegalstandardsintheirtreatmentofIraq.
    HansvonSponeck,formerUNassistantsecretarygeneralandhumanitarian
    coordinatorforIraq,Iraq:InternationalSanctionsandWhatNext?MiddleEast
    Policy(October2000),http://www.afsc.org/iraq/guide/sponeck.shtm.

    WhiletheUSgovernmentaccusesIraqofhavingviolated16UNresolutions,
    nomentionismadethatthemainresponsibilityfortheviolationofjustabout
    all international treaties and conventions from the UN Charter to the
    InternationalCovenantofeconomic,socialandculturalrights,theGenevaand
    HagueConventionsandthegenocideconventionpointstotheUSandBritish
    governments(seeinthisconnectionadocumentofUN/ECOSOCdated21
    June2000(GE.0014092)inwhichProf.MarcBossuyt,presentlyjudgeinthe
    Belgian Supreme Court and formerly chairman of the UN Human Rights
    Commissiongivesevidencetothiseffect[...]).
    HansvonSponeck,FourQuestions,FourAnswers(EuropeanColloquium,
    Brussels,September25,2002),http://www.afsc.org/iraq/guide/4questions.shtm.

    OfcoursetherealissueintheGulf[Warof1991]sofarastheU.S.was
    concerned was oil and strategic power, not the Bush administrations

    6
    professedprinciples,butwhatcompromisedintellectualdiscussionthroughout
    the country, in its reiterations of the inadmissibility of land unilaterally
    acquiredbyforce,wastheabsenceofuniversalapplicationoftheidea.What
    neverseemedrelevanttothemanyAmericanintellectualswhosupportedthe
    warwasthattheU.S.itselfhadjustrecentlyinvadedandforatimeoccupied
    the sovereign state of Panama. Surely if one criticized Iraq, it therefore
    followedthattheU.S.deservedthesamecriticism?Butno:ourmotives
    were higher, Saddam was a Hitler, whereas we were moved by largely
    altruisticanddisinterestedmotives,andthereforethiswasajustwar.
    EdwardSaid,RepresentationsoftheIntellectual(1994;rpt.NewYork:Vintage,
    1996),pp.9596.

    []theprincipleofuniversality[]saysthat:whatevercriteriawethink
    justifyawaronthepartofonecountryjustifyaswellwarsbyothercountries
    in the same situation. So if the United States is justified in bombing
    Afghanistanforprovidingsanctuarytoterrorists,thenothercountrieshave
    comparablerights.Thus,NicaraguaorCuba,whichhavebeenvictimizedby
    terrorism planned and supported by Washington, would be justified in
    bombingtheUnitedStates.Militarily,ofcourse,suchanactionwouldmake
    nosense,butintermsofjusticeitisnomoreunwarrantedthantheU.S.action
    inAfghanistan.
    StephenShalomandMichaelAlbert,InterventioninGeneral:PartAof45
    QuestionsandAnswersRegardingU.S.ForeignPolicy,ZNet(October8,2002),
    http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=40&ItemID=2446.

    [] if you take a poll among U.S. intellectuals, support for bombing


    Afghanistan is just overwhelming. But how many of them think that you
    shouldbombWashingtonbecauseoftheU.S.waragainstNicaragua,lets
    say, or Cuba []? Now, if anyone were to suggest this, they would be
    consideredinsane.Butwhy?Imean,ifoneisright,whyistheotherone
    wrong?
    When youtrytoget someone totalk aboutthis question,they cant
    understand what your question is. They cant comprehend that we should
    apply to ourselves the standards you apply to others. That is
    incomprehensible.Therecouldntbeamoralprinciplemoreelementary.All
    youhavetodoisreadGeorgeBush'sfavoritephilosopher[Jesus].Theresa
    famousdefinitionintheGospelsofthehypocrite,andthehypocriteisthe
    personwhorefusestoapplytohimselfthestandardsheappliedtoothers.
    Bythatstandard,theentirecommentaryanddiscussionofthesocalled
    WaronTerrorispurehypocrisy,virtuallywithoutexception.

    7
    Noam Chomsky, Power and Terror: Post9/11 Talks and Interviews, eds. John
    Junkerman and Takei Masakazu (New York: Seven Stories Press, Tokyo: Little
    More,2003),pp.2829.

    Americabelievesthatthe3,000deathsinNewYorkaretheonlydeaths
    that count, the only deaths that matter. They are American deaths. Other
    deathsareunreal,abstract,ofnoconsequence.
    The3,000deathsinAfghanistanareneverreferredto.Thehundredsof
    thousands of Iraqi children dead through American and British sanctions
    whichhavedeprivedthemofessentialmedicinesareneverreferredto.The
    effectofdepleteduranium,usedbyAmericaintheGulfWar,isneverreferred
    to. [.]The200,000deaths inEast Timor in1975broughtabout bythe
    Indonesian government but inspired and supported by America are never
    referredto.The500,000deathsinGuatemala,Chile,ElSalvador,Nicaragua,
    Uruguay, Argentina and Haiti, in actions supported and subsidized by
    America,areneverreferredto.ThemillionsofdeathsinVietnam,Laosand
    Cambodiaarenolongerreferredto.ThedesperateplightofthePalestinian
    people,thecentralfactorinworldunrest,ishardlyreferredto.
    Butwhatamisjudgmentofthepresentandwhatamisreadingofhistory
    thisis.Peopledonotforget.Theydonotforgetthedeathoftheirfellows,they
    donotforgettortureandmutilation,theydonotforgetinjustice,theydonot
    forgetoppression,theydonotforgettheterrorismofmightypowers.
    HaroldPinter,TheAmericanAdministrationisaBloodthirstyWildAnimal,
    addressonreceivinganhonorarydegreeattheUniversityofTurin(December11,
    2002),ZNet,http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?
    SectionID=40&ItemID=2739.

    DonteatBelgianchocolate,theIsraeliconsulinFloridaorderedthe
    largeJewishcommunitythere.InIsrael,antiBelgiancursesreachedanear
    splittingnewcrescendo.MiserableBelgium!MadBelgium!Megalomaniac
    Belgium!Andagainandagain:AntiSemiticBelgium!NeoNaziBelgium!
    TheIsraeliambassadorwas,ofcourse,recalledfromBrussels.[.]
    ThestormbrokewhenaBelgiancourtdecidedthatArielSharoncanbe
    suedforallegedwarcrimes,butonlyafterfinishinghistermasprimeminister
    ofIsrael.Israeliarmyofficersconnectedwiththe1982massacreintheSabra
    andShatilarefugeecampscanbesuedevennow.
    OnanIsraeliTVprogramme,theanchorman,alawyer,putitthisway.
    AntiSemiticBelgiumwantstojudgetheofficersofasecondcountryfor
    crimescommittedinathirdcountry,whiletheaccusedhavenoconnectionat
    allwithBelgium,arenotonBelgianterritoryandthewholeaffairdoesnot
    concernBelgium.Thatismegalomania,reallyamatterforpsychiatrists!
    Strange, I replied on the programme. I seem to remember a case
    where country A kidnapped in country B the citizen of country C for

    8
    committingincountryDwarcrimesagainstthecitizensofcountriesE,Fand
    G,allthisinspiteofthefactthecrimeswerecommittedbeforecountryA
    evenexisted.Imeant,ofcourse,thetrialofAdolfEichmann,towhichweall
    agreed.
    How can you compare the two! the other participants in the
    programmecriedoutinoutragedunison.[.]
    Well, it was the Jews who demanded, after World War II, that all
    countries put Nazi war criminals and their allies on trial. Eichmann was
    judgedinIsraelaccordingtotheIsraeliLawforbringingtheNazisandtheir
    HelperstoJustice,whichdoesnotrecognizeanyborders.Morerecentlythe
    Knessetenactedanotherlaw,enablingIsraelicourtstojudgeperpetratorsof
    anycrimecommittedagainstJewsanywhereintheworld.Ifso,whatswrong
    withtheBelgianlawofuniversaljurisdiction,thatallowsBelgiancourtsto
    judgewarcriminalsfromallovertheworld?
    ImmanuelKantpromulgatedtheCategoricalImperative:Actasifthe
    principlebywhichyouactwereabouttobeturnedintoauniversallawof
    nature.[.]
    TheBelgianlawagainstwarcrimesisastepinthisdirection,andIhope
    thatmanyothercountrieswillfollowsuit.Ofcourse,itwouldbebetterifthe
    InternationalCriminalCourtinTheHaguewouldfulfilthisduty,butmuch
    timewillpassbeforeitwillbeableto.Immensepoliticalpressuresarebeing
    exerted,manylimitationshavebeenimposed,itshandsandfeethavebeen
    shackled.Worse,theonlysuperpower,theUnitedStates,isopenlytryingto
    destroyit[].
    UriAvnery,ItsOKtoEatBelgianChocolates,ZNet(February23,2003),
    http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=22&ItemID=3107.

    WhenthedaycomesthatnewsoutletsaccordthelifeofaPalestinianchildthe
    samereverenceasthelifeofanIsraelichild,wellknowthatmediacoverage
    hasmovedbeyondcravenmediaspeaktoasinglestandardofhumanrights.
    NormanSolomon,DecodingSomeTopBuzzwords,ZNet(December13,2002),
    http://zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=21&ItemID=2746.

    2.WhatisTerrorism?
    As the Oxford English Dictionary informs us, the word terrorism was
    initiallyusedtodescribeGovernmentbyintimidationasdirectedandcarriedoutby
    thepartyinpowerinFranceduringtheRevolutionof17891794;thesystemofthe
    Terror(17934).ThismeaningwassubsequentlygeneralizedtothesensesofA

    9
    policy intended to strike with terror those against whom it is adopted; the
    employmentofmethodsofintimidation;thefactofterrorizingorconditionofbeing
    terrorized(OED,terrorism,1,2).
    The term terrorist, accordingly, was first applied to the Jacobins and
    their agents and partisans in the French Revolution, and especially to those
    connectedwiththeRevolutionarytribunalsduringtheReignofTerror.Bythe
    latterpartofthenineteenthcenturythiswordhadcometodenoteAnyonewho
    attemptstofurtherhisviewsbyasystemofcoerciveintimidationwithparticular
    referencetotacticsusedbysomeopponentsofCzarisminRussia.Butfromthefirst
    decadeofthenineteenthcenturythetermhadalsobeenusedtoidentifyOnewho
    entertains,professes,ortriestoawakenorspreadafeelingofterrororalarm;an
    alarmist,ascaremonger(OED,terrorist,1.ab,2).
    Initsearlyuses,terrorismreferredconsistentlytothepracticesofpeople
    whoholdstatepowerthatis,toactsofexemplaryviolencecarriedoutbyagentsof
    thestate,inthemannerofthatnineteenthcenturyFrencharmyofficerwhoissaidto
    havepreparedthesoldiersunderhiscommandforbattlebyshootingoneofthemin
    cold blood pour encourager les autres. In contemporary usage, in contrast,
    terrorismismostcommonlyappliedtoactsofwarlikeviolencecarriedoutby
    agencies other than a stateor other than a state of which one approves. One
    deliberateeffectofthisusagehasbeentocriminalizemovementsofresistanceto
    colonialorneocolonialviolenceandaggressionmovementswhichmightotherwise
    berecognizedaslegitimaterisingsagainsttyranny.Thetacticisnotanewone:the
    Nazis denounced resistance fighters in occupied Europe as terrorists, and the
    apartheidregimeinSouthAfricaimprisonedNelsonMandelaasaterrorist;thestate
    of Israel now describes the Palestinian fighters who resist Israeli attacks upon
    refugeecampsandcitiesintheoccupiedterritoriesasterrorists.
    Thenotionofstateterrorismhasdevelopedasameansoftalkingaboutthe
    easilyascertainablefactthatthevastmajorityofactsaimedatviolentcoercionor
    intimidation of a social collectivity (on the principle of victimizing a few pour
    encouragerlesautres)havebeencarriedoutbystateauthorities.
    Inthelatenineteenthcenturythewordterrorismwasalsousedtodescribe
    systems of religious intimidation that had been deployed in earlier centuries to
    repress any leanings toward doubt or rebellion, and to ensure that people were
    terrifiedintopassiveconformitybyfearofdemonicforceswitchesanddevilsand
    the plagues they could supposedly unleashand terrified as well by the devilish
    persecutionswhichawaitedanyonewhocouldbeaccused,asahereticorwitch,of
    takingthedevilssideagainstGodandthestate.(See,forexample,W.E.H.Leckys
    discussionoftheenginesofterrorisminhisHistoryoftheRiseandInfluenceof
    theSpiritofRationalisminEurope[1865;rpt.NewYork,1888],vol.1,pp.3781.)
    ConcertedattemptsarecurrentlybeingmadetoconvinceAmericansthatthey
    areunderthreatbysimilarlydemonicagentstheunlocatableOsamabinLaden,
    saidtohaveformedanalliance(forwhichtherehasneverbeenashredofevidence)
    withthenowlikewiseunlocatableSaddamHusseintoassaulttheU.S.withSaddams
    weapons of mass destruction (the existence of which in recent years is also

    10
    unsupportedbyanyevidence[seesection5below]).DuringthebuilduptotheU.S.
    U.K.attackonIraqmanythousandsofAmericanswereterrifiedbyTomRidge,the
    DirectorofHomelandSecurity,intopanicbuyingofducttapeandplasticsheetingas
    a protection against attack by chemical or biological weapons. These were
    presumably to be delivered to American cities by the Iraqi drone aircraft which
    SecretaryofStateColinPowellwasatthesametimedescribingasanurgentthreat.
    Thedronesinquestionturnedouttohaveaneffectiverangeofelevenkilometers;
    theywerepoweredbyenginesresemblingthoseofcommongardenweedwhackers,
    andconstructedoutofbalsawoodandwaitforitducttape.
    People whose skin colour or ethnic origin makes them vulnerable to
    suspicionsofsympathywiththesedemonizedenemiesofagodlypeoplehavereason
    tobefearful.Since2001,theprotectionsagainsttheexerciseofarbitrarystatepower
    thattheConstitutionoftheUnitedStatesonceprovidedhavebeensystematically
    destroyedbytheBushregime(seesection9[b]below).Aclearregressiontopre
    EnlightenmentconditionsisevidentintheprovisionsofthetwosocalledPatriotActs
    forarbitraryrevocationofcitizenship,arbitraryimprisonment,andtheremovalof
    protectionsagainstforcedselfincrimination.TheU.S.government,moreover,has
    subjected prisoners totorture in its GuantanamoBay prisonand elsewhere, and
    openlyacknowledgesthatterrorismsuspectsaretorturedbythesecurityforcesofits
    clientstatestowhichitsendssuspectsforthatpurpose.
    ItmaybetimetothinkofrevivingLeckyssenseofthewordterrorism.
    Theexcerpts inthis sectionarefrom writings byJohnMcMurtry,Russell
    Mokhiber, Stephen Shalom and Michael Albert, and Arundhati Roy. For further
    readingsonthesubjectofterrorism,seethefollowing:

    Ahmad, Eqbal. Terrorism:Theirs andOurs. New York:Seven Stories


    Press,2001.
    Chomsky, Noam. Pirates and Emperors, Old and New: International
    TerrorismintheRealWorld.Toronto:BetweentheLines,2002.
    . Power and Terror: Post9/11 Talks and Interviews. Eds. John
    JunkermanandTakeiMasakazu.NewYork:SevenStoriesPress;
    Tokyo:LittleMore,2003.
    Scowen,Peter.RogueNation:TheAmericatheRestoftheWorldKnows.
    Toronto: McClelland & Stewart, 2003. (Chapters five and six
    provideanaccountofU.S.terrorisminCentralAmericaduringthe
    1980s.)
    Townshend,Charles. Terrorism:AVeryShortIntroduction.Oxfordand
    NewYork:OxfordUniversityPress,2002.
    Terrorismismostfrequentlydefinedasattacks onciviliansundertakenfor
    politicalpurposes.Terrorismiswrongifitisblowingupasmallbombina
    pizzaparlororonabus.Itiswrongifitisblowingupalargerbombinalarge

    11
    busstation.Itiswrongifitisaplaneusedtotakeoutahugeskyscraper.And
    itiswrongifitisamassiveairforcepummelingthecivilianpopulationand
    infrastructureofasociety,orifitissanctionsdenyingasocietythemeansto
    sustainthelifeofmanyofitscitizens.Terrorismiswrongwhencarriedoutby
    disgruntledindividuals,groups,orwholearmiesandgovernments.Anditis
    wrongregardlessofwhetherthemotiveswouldbeworthywerethemeans
    different, or whether the motives are themselves horribly unjust, or just
    insane.
    StephenShalomandMichaelAlbert,9/11&Afghanistan:PartBof45Questions
    onU.S.ForeignPolicy,ZNet(October9,2002),
    http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=40&ItemID=2447.

    Mokhiber:InhisbookVeil,BobWoodwardreportedacoupleofyearsago
    thataCIAsponsoredcarbombkilled80innocentciviliansinBeirut.Youtalk
    aboutterrorandthewaronevil.DoesthewaronterrorandevilincludeU.S.
    sponsoredterrorandU.S.sponsoreddeathsciviliandeaths?
    Fleischer: I am not going to accept the premise of that question, we are
    talkingabouttheUnitedStatesactinginselfdefense.
    RussellMokhiber,Ari&I:WhiteHousePressBriefingwithAriFleischer,
    Tuesday,November20,200112:15PM,CommonDreams,
    http://www.commondreams.org/headlines01/112006.htm.

    Setting aside the rhetoric for a moment, consider the fact that the
    worldhasnotyetfoundanacceptabledefinitionofwhatterrorismis.One
    country'sterrorististoooftenanothersfreedomfighter.Attheheartofthe
    matter lies the worlds deepseated ambivalence towards violence. Once
    violenceisacceptedasalegitimatepoliticalinstrument,thenthemoralityand
    political legitimacy of terrorists (insurgents or freedom fighters) becomes
    contentious,bumpyterrain.TheUSgovernmentitselfhasfunded,armed,and
    sheltered plenty of rebels and insurgents around the world. The CIA and
    PakistansISItrainedandarmedthemujahideenwho,inthe1980s,wereseen
    as terrorists by the government in Sovietoccupied Afghanistan, while
    PresidentReaganposedwiththemforagroupportraitandcalledthemthe
    moralequivalentsofAmerica'sfoundingfathers.Today,PakistanAmericas
    allyinthisnewwarsponsorsinsurgentswhocrosstheborderintoKashmir
    in India. Pakistan lauds them as freedom fighters, India calls them
    terrorists. India, for its part, denounces countries who sponsor and abet
    terrorism,buttheIndianarmyhas,inthepast,trainedseparatistTamilrebels
    askingforahomelandinSriLankatheLTTE,responsibleforcountlessacts
    ofbloodyterrorism.(JustastheCIAabandonedthemujahideenaftertheyhad
    serveditspurpose,IndiaabruptlyturneditsbackontheLTTEforahostof

    12
    politicalreasons.ItwasanenragedLTTEsuicidebomberwhoassassinated
    formerIndianprimeministerRajivGandhiin1991.)
    ArundhatiRoy,WarisPeace,Outlook(October18,2001),
    http://www.zmag.org/roywarpeace.htm.

    JohnMcMurtryidentifies,beyondtheeasilyidentifiableviolenceofretail
    orofstateterrorism,somethingthathecallstheunseenterroristpattern.(His
    analysis of this pattern has been elaborated in three recent books: Unequal
    Freedoms:TheGlobalMarketasanEthicalSystem[Toronto:Garamond,1998],The
    Cancer StageofCapitalism [London:Pluto, 1999],and ValueWars:TheGlobal
    MarketVersustheLifeEconomy[London:Pluto,2002].)
    Thegravestproblemwithcorporatemarketfundamentalismisthatitis
    decoupled from societys life conditions. It is, in fact, incapable of
    recognizinganyvaluetoanythingexceptcorporatevalueaddingwhich,itis
    assumed, should regulate all peoples and conditions of life on earth for
    efficiencyandmaximumgrowth.Tothispoint,therehasbeennooutside
    margintothistotaldoctrinesdemands,orgovernmentsubserviencetothem.
    Sincethecommitmentsofasocietytosafeguardthelivesofitsmembers
    andtoensuretheyareabletoexpressthemselvesashumanisthemeasureof
    itscivilization,thisglobalcorporateprogramisnotmerelyuncivilized.Itis,
    beneath recognition, terrorist in its meaning. For if we recognize the real
    meaning of terrorismto instill in innocent people fear for their life
    securitytocoercetheircompliancetoanarmedfactionsdemandsweseeits
    pattern increasingly at work across world life organization. Under the
    financialdictatesofthecorporatemarketbackedbyrisingextremesofarmed
    force, citizens everywhere are subjected to a lowintensity campaign of
    destabilizationandfearthatleavesnoaspectoftheirlivessecure.[.]
    Thepatterncannotbeplausiblydeniedonceitisexposed.Therearetwo
    majorformsofattackonpeoplesmeansoflifetocoercethemtoconformto
    globalfinancialandcorporatedemands.Thefirstistodefundsocietiesnon
    profitsocialinfrastructureseverywhereuntilpeopleshavenochoicebutto
    privatize their management for profit. The second front of attack is more
    directlyviolenttowageonefinancialandmilitarywarafteranotheronthe
    poorest peoples of the world to control their states and expropriate their
    regional resources. Both these wars on humanity are driven by a fanatic
    fundamentalismtoproduceevermoremoneyforthosewithmostmoney,
    with no limit, regulation or higher goal permitted to obstruct these
    transnationalmoneysequences.
    TheshapeofthisBeastsevergrosserlinesdwarfsthemonsterbeheld
    bySt.JohnoftheApocalypse,ortheboundlessgreedofDuryodhanatoldby
    the Mahabharatta.Weliveunderanincreasinglyglobalreignofterror,but
    ourdisconnectionfromthemeaningisitstriumph.

    13

    JohnMcMurtry,WhyisthereaWarinAfghanistan?OpeningAddress,Science
    forPeaceForumandTeachIn,UniversityofToronto,December9,2001,
    http://scienceforpeace.sa.utoronto.ca/Special_Activities/McMurtry_Page.html.

    3.WesternWarCrimes,19912003
    ThissectionismadeupofexcerptsfromwritingsbyNyierAbdouandDenis
    Halliday,AnthonyArnove,NoamChomsky,ReeseErlich,DavidHilfiker,PopeJohn
    PaulII,JohnPilger,JeremyScahill,HansvonSponeck,andMickeyZ.

    (a)ThebombingofIraqinthe1991GulfWarwascriminal
    Certainepisodesattractedwesternmediaattentionatthetimesuchasthe
    deliberately targeted bombing of the Amiriya air raid shelter in Baghdad on
    February13,1991,whichkilledsome400civilians.Butthemoregeneralcriminality
    ofthe1991bombingstemsfromthefactthatitwasdeliberatelydesignedtodestroy
    the lifesustaining civilian infrastructure of the country. Attacks of this kind are
    expresslyforbiddenbyinternationallaw.
    U.S. bombs also destroyed essential Iraqi infrastructure [which
    provided]forcivilianneeds,particularlysafewaterandelectricitynotasan
    accident, but as part of an explicit strategy. Amid mounting evidence of
    IraqsruinedinfrastructureandthepainfulconsequencesforordinaryIraqis,
    Pentagonofficialsmorereadilyacknowledgethesevereimpactofthe43day
    airbombardmentonIraqseconomicfutureandcivilianpopulation,Barton
    GellmanoftheWashingtonPostwroteafewmonthsafterthewar.
    Thoughmanydetailsremainclassified,interviewswiththoseinvolved
    inthetargetingdisclosethreemaincontrastswiththeadministrationsearlier
    portrayalofacampaignaimedsolelyatIraqsarmedforcesandtheirlinesof
    supplyandcommand.Sometargets,especiallylateinthewar,werebombed
    primarilytocreatepostwarleverageoverIraq,nottoinfluencethecourseof
    theconflictitself.Plannersnowsaytheirintentwastodestroyordamage
    valuable facilities that Iraq could not repair without foreign assistance.
    Becauseofthesegoals,damagetocivilianstructuresandinterests,invariably
    described by briefers during the war as collateral and unintended, was
    sometimesneither.

    14
    AnthonyArnove,ADecadeofUSWaronIraq,SocialistWorker(December15,
    2002),http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=15&ItemID=2755.

    (b)Theuseofdepleteduraniummunitionswascriminal
    Theuseofdepleteduraniumartilleryandtankshellsandaircraftmunitions
    duringthe1991GulfWarcouldalsobeclassifiedasawarcrime.Althoughthe
    havoctheywreakbycausingbirthdefects,cancersandleukemiaisdeferredrather
    thaninstantaneous,thesemunitionscanappropriatelybedescribedasweaponsof
    massdestruction.
    morethan1millionroundsofdepleteduranium(DU)shellswereusedby
    theU.S.inIraqandKuwait.ThePentagonusestheseoutrageousmunitions
    becausetheycanpiercetanksandotherthicksurfacesbuttheshellsleave
    behindatoxicdisaster.Today,nearly12yearsaftertheuseofthesuper
    tough weapons, the Seattle PostIntelligencer recently reported, the
    battlefieldremainsaradioactivetoxicwasteland.
    Iraqiphysicianssaydepleteduraniumisresponsibleforasignificant
    increaseincancerandbirthdefectsintheregion.Manyresearchersoutside
    Iraq, and several U.S. veterans organizations agree; they also suspect
    depleted uranium of playing a role in Gulf War Syndrome, the still
    unexplainedmaladythathasplaguedhundredsofthousandsofveterans.
    AnthonyArnove,ADecadeofUSWaronIraq,SocialistWorker(December15,
    2002),http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=15&ItemID=2755.

    Depleteduraniumisaweaponofmassdestruction.Coatedonmissiles,and
    tankshells,itsexplosiveforcespreadsradiationoverawidearea,especiallyin
    thedesertdust.
    ProfessorDougRokke,theUSarmyphysicistinchargeofcleaningup
    depleteduraniuminKuwait,toldme,IamlikemostpeopleinsouthernIraq.
    Ihave5,000times therecommendedlevelofradiationinmybody.What
    were seeing now, respiratory problems, kidney problems, cancers are the
    direct result. The controversy over whether or not its the cause of these
    problemsisamanufacturedone.Myownillhealthisatestamenttothat.
    JohnPilger,TheSecretWar:TheUSWarAgainstIraqiswellunderway,The
    Mirror(December20,2002),http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?
    SectionID=15&ItemID=2776.

    15
    OnestudyconductedbyIraqidoctorsindicatedthat0.776percentofBasra
    areachildrenwerebornwithbirthdefectsin1998,comparedtojust0.304
    percent in 1990, before the Gulf War. Another study showed a rise in
    childhoodcancersandothermalignanciesof384.2percentfrom19902000.
    [.]
    Iraqidoctors,andanincreasingnumberofwesternscientists,attribute
    theriseindiseasesandbirthdefectstotheU.S.andBritishuseofdepleted
    uranium. [.] The Pentagon confirms firing 320 tons of DU ammunition
    duringtheGulfWar.
    U.S.andBritisharmyveteransalsosuspectDUasacauseofGulfWar
    illnesses.Dr.DougRokke,nowamajorintheU.S.ArmyReserves,wasin
    charge of cleaning up twentyfour U.S. tanks hit by American DU shells
    duringtheGulfWar,casualtiesoffriendlyfire.Heandhiscrewworkedfor
    threemonthsshippingthearmorbacktotheU.S.forspecialdecontamination.
    TheexposuretoDUcontaminationwassointense,Rokketoldme,We
    allgotsickwithinseventytwohours.Threeyearslater,Rokkesaid,aurine
    testshowedthathehad5,000timesthepermissiblelevelofuraniuminhis
    body.AnumberofGulfWarveteranswhoworkedinDUcontaminatedzones
    have been diagnosed with the same kind of cancers as found in Basra
    civilians,andtheyalsofatheredchildrenwithbirthdefects.
    Rokke,aphysicistwithaPh.D.andtheU.S.ArmysformerDUProject
    Director,studiedthemilitary'sinternaldocumentsandpreparedmaterialson
    howtocleanupDUcontaminatedareas.Basedonhisexperience,hesays,
    TheUnitedStatesmilitaryleadersknewthatusingDUwouldcausehealth
    andenvironmentalproblems.
    ReeseErlich,DepletedUranium:America'sDirtySecret,inNormanSolomonand
    ReeseErlich,TargetIraq:WhattheNewsMediaDidn'tTellYou(NewYork:
    ContextBooks,2003),pp.5860.

    ForthoseunfamiliarwithDU,considerthis:Whenfired,theuranium
    burstsintoflameandsearsthroughsteelarmor.Theheatoftheshellcauses
    anydieselfuelvaporsintheenemytanktoexplode,andthecrewinsideis
    burned alive. DU burns on contact, creating tiny aerosolized particles of
    radiationlessthanfivemicronsindiameter,smallenoughtobeinhaled.DU
    wasalsousedbytheUSinYugoslaviaandAfghanistan.
    Inotherwords,theUShasconductedfournuclearwars:Japan,Iraq,
    Yugoslavia,andAfghanistan[].
    MickeyZ,AntiWarSpeech,ZNet(February25,2003),
    http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=51&ItemID=3127.

    16

    (c)SanctionsagainstIraqconstitutedawarcrime
    ThesanctionsagainstIraqconstitutedawarcrimeasdefinedbyArticle85of
    theAdditionalProtocolsItotheGenevaConventionsof1949:theywilfullyandwith
    thefullknowledgeofthosewhoimposethemcauseddeathorseriousinjurytothe
    bodiesorhealthofacivilianpopulation.
    Furthermore, Protocol 1 Additional to the Geneva Conventions (1977)
    outlawsthestarvationofciviliansasamethodofwarfare;accordingtothisprotocol,
    it is forbidden to attack, destroy, remove, or render useless drinking water
    installations and supplies, irrigation works, and materials indispensable to the
    production of foodstuffs for the specific purpose of denying them to the civilian
    population.
    Thesanctionsalsoviolatedthefollowingchartersofinternationallaw:
    1.ConstitutionoftheWorldHealthOrganization(1946)
    In this document the enjoyment of the highest standard of health is
    definedasafundamentalhumanright.
    2.UniversalDeclarationofHumanRights(1948)
    Amongtherightsdefinedhereistherighttoastandardoflivingadequate
    forthehealthandwellbeingofoneselfandonesfamily,includingfood,
    clothing,housing,medicalcareandnecessarysocialservices,andsecurity
    intheeventofunemployment,sickness,disability,widowhood,oldage,or
    otherlackoflivelihood.
    3.CharterofEconomicRightsandDutiesofStates,adoptedbytheUNGeneral
    Assembly(1974)
    Thischarterforbidsanystatetouseorencouragetheuseofeconomic,
    political or other measures to coerce another state to produce the
    subordination of the exercise of its sovereign rights, or to secure
    advantagesofanykind.
    4.UNGeneralAssemblyResolution44/215(December22,1989)
    Theresolutioncallsupondevelopedcountriestorefrainfrompolitical
    coercionthrougheconomicmeanswiththeaimofchangingtheeconomic
    orpoliticalsystems,orthedomesticorforeignpolicies,ofothercountries;
    itreaffirmsthatdevelopedcountriesshouldnotthreatenorapplytradeand
    financialrestrictions,blockades,embargoesandothereconomicsanctions
    incompatible withthe CharteroftheUnitedNations andinviolation of
    multilateralorbilateralundertakings.
    5. International Conference on Nutrition, World Declaration on Nutrition,
    FAO/WHO(1992)
    Thisdocumentrecognizesaccesstonutritionallyadequateandsafefood
    asabasichumanright,andaffirmsthatfoodmustnotbeusedasatoolfor
    politicalpressure.
    Source:http://www.afsc.org/iraq/guide/intlaw.shtm.

    17

    Itisstrikingthatwithsuchhighprofiledefections asthatof[Denis]
    Halliday [former UN assistant secretarygeneral and chief UN relief co
    ordinatorforIraq]andhissuccessor,HansvonSponeck,nottomentionthe
    persistentstruggleofformerUNSCOMinspectorScottRittertodebunkUS
    andBritishhalftruthsaboutthethreatfromIraq,thesanctionsregimeremains
    in place. In Cairo last week for a conference launching the International
    Campaign against US Aggression on Iraq (ICAA), both Halliday and von
    Sponeckcondemnedthecrippling ofthe Iraqieconomy,the prevention of
    healthcareandsoaringinfantandchildmortalityratesinIraqasnothingshort
    of genocide perpetrated by the very organisation founded to protect the
    humanityandsovereigntyofitsmembernations.
    Genocideisastrongword;andonethat,itcouldbeargued,isused
    toofreely.ButHallidaydoesnotshyawayfromeveryimplicationtheterm
    carries:fromtheinstitutionalmethodology,tothesystematicexecution,tothe
    racial hatred. In his address to the conference last Wednesday, Halliday
    definedsanctionsaswarfareandconsistentwithwarcrimes.Speakingof
    US President George W Bushs determination to invade Iraq, Halliday
    denouncedtheadministrations warplans asobscene.Its criminal, he
    said,andIbelieveitsindictable.
    WhileHallidaymaintainsthatsanctionsprovidedforintheUNcharter
    arealegitimatedevicetoforcethehandofleaderships,heispointedabout
    the punitive nature of sanctions in Iraq, noting that he thinks given his
    experienceinIraq,theUnitedNationsisrethinking,andhopefullywillnever
    use openended, comprehensive sanctions again. But he adds that the
    mistakesmadeinapplyingsanctionsinIraqhavebeenwellacknowledged,
    justified,compoundedandsustained.Thefactis,theUNSecurityCouncil
    hasallowedthesesanctionsonIraqtodragonfortwelveyears,andthisisnot
    happenstance;thisisdeliberatedecisionmaking.ThatswhyIvedetermined
    ittobeagenocide.
    NyierAbdouandDenisHalliday,ScyllaandCharybdis:AnInterviewwithDenis
    Halliday,AlAhram(December30,2002),
    http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=15&ItemID=2810.

    WhenIfirstmetHalliday,Iwasstruckbythecarewithwhichhechose
    uncompromising words. I hadbeen instructed, he said, to implement a
    policythatsatisfiesthedefinitionofgenocide:adeliberatepolicythathas
    effectivelykilledwelloveramillionindividuals,childrenandadults.Weall
    knowthattheregime,SaddamHussein,isnotpayingthepriceforeconomic
    sanctions;onthecontrary,hehasbeenstrengthenedbythem.Itisthelittle
    people whoarelosing their children ortheir parents forlack ofuntreated
    water.WhatisclearisthattheSecurityCouncilisnowoutofcontrol,forits

    18
    actionshereundermineitsownCharterandtheDeclarationofHumanRights
    andtheGenevaConvention.Historywillslaughterthoseresponsible.
    Inside the UN, Halliday broke a long collective silence. Then on
    February13thisyear[2000],HansvonSponeck,whohadsucceededhimas
    humanitariancoordinatorinIraq,resigned.Howlong,heasked,should
    thecivilianpopulationofIraqbeexposedtosuchpunishmentforsomething
    theyhaveneverdone?Twodayslater,JuttaBurghardt,headoftheWorld
    Food Programme in Iraq, resigned, saying privately she, too, could not
    toleratewhatwasbeingdonetotheIraqipeople.[.]
    DenisHallidayandItravelledtoIraqtogether.Itwashisfirsttripback.
    Washington andLondon make much ofthe influence of Iraqi propaganda
    whentheirown,unchallenged,isbyfarthemostpotent.Withthisinmind,I
    wantedanindependentassessmentfromsomeofthe550UNpeople,whoare
    Iraqslifeline.Amongthem,HallidayandvonSponeckareheroes.Ihave
    reportedtheUNatworkinmanycountries;Ihaveneverknownsuchdissent
    and anger, directed at the manipulation of the Security Council, and the
    corruptionofwhatsomeofthemstillrefertoastheUNideal.
    JohnPilger,Squeezedtodeath:HalfamillionchildrenhavediedinIraqsinceUN
    sanctionswereimposedmostenthusiasticallybyBritainandtheUS.ThreeUN
    officialshaveresignedindespair.Meanwhile,bombingofIraqcontinuesalmost
    daily,TheGuardian(March4,2000),
    http://www.guardian.co.uk/weekend/story/0,3605,232986,00.html.

    DiscussionsinEuropeandNorthAmericawithexpertsoninternational
    law haveremovedanydoubtthattenyearsofsanctions againstIraqhave
    resulted in serious breaches of key provisions of all relevant treaties and
    treatylikeinstrumentssuchastheUniversalDeclarationofHumanRights.
    It must be remembered that there is a hierarchical relationship between
    articles of the U.N. Charter and the concept of subsidiarity. Principles of
    justiceandinternationallaw(Article1.1)andthepreservationofhumanrights
    (Article55.c)takeunquestionablepreferenceovertheprovisionsofChapter
    VII(Article41).UNICEFreportsthatsome5,000childrendieeverymonthin
    Iraqasadirectresultofsanctions,i.e.,duetoapolicythatisnolongerbased
    onprinciplesofinternationallaw.
    HansvonSponeck,Iraq:InternationalSanctionsandWhatNext?MiddleEast
    Policy(October2000),http://www.afsc.org/iraq/guide/sponeck.shtm.

    ComprehensiveeconomicsanctionsagainstthepeopleofIraqare[in
    September2002]enteringtheir13thyear.Thehumancondition[s]identified
    already in 1991 after the Gulf War as apocalyptic have significantly
    worsened since then in both mental and physical terms. The amount of
    evidence collected by reputable international organisations about child

    19
    mortality, malnutrition, reemerging diseases, impoverishment, educational
    neglect andpsychologicaldisorderscontinues toaccumulate (pleaseseein
    particularrecentreportsbyUNICEF,CARITAS,SavetheChildren/UK).
    What the international community has seen since May 2002 when
    UN/SCresolution1409introducedsocalledsmartsanctionsrepresents,as
    predicted by individual members of the current UN Security Council,
    anything but an improvement. In addition, over $5 billion worth of
    humanitariansuppliesremainonholdblockedbyUS/UKauthorities.The
    oil pricing confrontation created by the US/UK governments to end the
    illegalsurchargeissuehasresultedinamajorshortfalloffundingforthe
    presentphaseXIIoftheoilforfoodprogrammeandseriouslyendangersthe
    alreadyfragilehumanitarianexemptionprogramme.
    HansvonSponeck,FourQuestions,FourAnswers(EuropeanColloquium,
    Brussels,September25,2002),http://www.afsc.org/iraq/guide/4questions.shtm.

    AmongthosenowdebatingwhethertheIraqipeopleshouldbecluster
    bombedornot,incineratedornot,youareunlikelytofindthenamesofDenis
    HallidayandHansvonSponeck,whohavedonethemosttobreakthroughthe
    propaganda. No one knows the potential human cost better than they. As
    assistant secretary general of the UN, Halliday started the oilforfood
    programmeinIraq.VonSponeckwashissuccessor.Eminentintheirfieldof
    caringforotherhumanbeings,theyresignedtheirlongUNcareers,callingthe
    embargogenocide.
    Theirlastappearanceinthepresswasinthe Guardian lastNovember
    [i.e.2001],whentheywrote:ThemostrecentreportoftheUNsecretary
    general,inOctober2001,saysthattheUSandUKgovernmentsblockingof
    $4bn of humanitarian supplies is by far the greatest constraint on the
    implementation of the oilforfood programme. The report says that, in
    contrast,theIraqigovernmentsdistributionofhumanitariansuppliesisfully
    satisfactoryThedeathofsome56,000childrenamonthismostlydueto
    contaminated water, lack of medicines and malnutrition. The US and UK
    governmentsdelayedclearanceofequipmentandmaterialsisresponsiblefor
    thistragedy,notBaghdad.
    They are in no doubt that if Saddam Hussein saw advantage in
    deliberatelydenyinghispeoplehumanitariansupplies,hewoulddoso;butthe
    UN,fromthesecretary generalhimself down,says that,whiletheregime
    could do more, it has not withheld supplies. Indeed, without Iraqs own
    rationing and distribution system, says the UN Food and Agriculture
    Organisation,therewouldhavebeenfamine.HallidayandvonSponeckpoint
    outthattheUSandBritainareabletofendoffcriticismofsanctionswith
    unsubstantiatedstoriesthattheregimeispunishingitsownpeople.Ifthese
    storiesaretrue,theysay,whydoAmericaandBritainfurtherpunishthemby
    deliberatelywithholdinghumanitariansupplies,suchasvaccines,painkillers

    20
    and cancer diagnostic equipment? This wanton blocking of UNapproved
    shipmentsisrarelyreportedintheBritishpress.Thefigureisnowalmost
    $5bninhumanitarianrelatedsupplies.Onceagain,theUNexecutivedirector
    oftheoilforfoodprogrammehasbrokendiplomaticsilencetoexpressgrave
    concernattheunprecedentedsurgeinvolumeofholdsplacedoncontracts[by
    theUS].
    JohnPilger,AcompliantpressispreparingthegroundforanalloutattackonIraq
    (March21,2002),http://pilger.carlton.com/print/100275.

    Asweprepare[inJanuary1998]foranewroundofbombings,wecry
    outinanguishoversevenyearsofUnitedNationssanctionsagainsttheIraqi
    people,whichcanonlybeunderstoodasbiologicalwarfareagainstacivilian
    population. During the Gulf War, U.S.led coalition forces deliberately
    targetedIraqsinfrastructure,destroyingitsabilitytoprovidefood,waterand
    sanitationtoitscivilianpopulationandunleashingdiseaseandstarvationon
    an unimaginable scale. United Nations reports claim that over 1 million
    civilianshavediedasadirectresultofthesanctions.UNICEFreportsthat
    4,500childrenaredyingeachmonth.Aspeopleoffaith,weareashamedthat
    theactionsoftheUN,whosemissionistofosterpeace,canbesodeliberately
    directedtowardthesustainedslaughterofinnocentcivilians.
    PopeJohnPaulII,AddresstotheVaticandiplomaticcorps,January1998;quotedby
    AndrewCockburnandPatrickCockburn,OutoftheAshes:TheResurrectionof
    SaddamHussein(1999;rpt.NewYork:HarperPerennial,2000),p.275.

    As for the moral level, if the word can even be used, it is hard to
    improve onthepronouncements ofSecretary ofState Madeleine Albright.
    Twoyearsago[i.e.in1996],whenaskedonnationalTVaboutherreactionto
    reports that the sanctions she administers have killed half a million Iraqi
    childreninfiveyears,sherespondedthatitisaveryhardchoice,butwe
    thinkthepriceisworthit.Weknowwellenoughonwhatpageofhistory
    thosesentimentsbelong.
    NoamChomsky,ChomskyCommentonIraqBombing,
    http://www.zmag.org/forums/chomiraqb.htm.

    InIraq,adecadeofharshsanctionsunderUSpressurehasstrengthened
    SaddamHusseinwhileleadingtothedeathofhundredsofthousandsofIraqis
    perhaps morepeoplethan havebeenslainbyall socalled weapons of
    massdestructionthroughouthistory,militaryanalystsJohnandKarlMueller
    wroteinForeignAffairsin1999.

    21
    NoamChomsky,DraintheSwampandThereWillBeNoMoreMosquitoes,ZNet
    (September10,2002),http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?
    SectionID=11&ItemID=2312.

    Wevevisitedanumberofwatertreatmentplantsthatarefallingapart
    acrossthecountrybecauseoftheeffectsofthe[1991]warandthesanctions.
    Without purified drinking water, the children are dying, an underfive
    mortalityrate21/2timeshigherthanbeforethewar.Howcanwepossibly
    explaintoourselvesnotallowingpartsforwatertreatment,moneytopayfor
    installationofnewplants,andsoon,whenthewaterandsanitationdisasteris
    theprimarycauseoftheincreasedchildmortalitythatnowtakessome13%of
    allyoungchildren?
    When asked that kind of question, apologists for US action usually
    respondthattheproblemisnotthesanctionsbutSaddamHusseinsmisuseof
    humanitarianmaterialsthatwouldalleviatetheproblemifheonlyallowed
    theirproperuse.In1996,theOilforFoodProgram(OFFP)wasinitiated,
    whichallowedIraqtosellcertainamountsofitsoil.Acertainpercentage
    (aboutaquarter)wouldbekepttopayreparations toKuwait andanother
    percentagewouldpaytheUNforitsmonitoringexpenses;therestcouldbe
    used to import humanitarian goods: food, medical supplies, medications,
    water treatment equipment, etc. This was supposed to alleviate the
    humanitarian crisis, and official US policy is that it would alleviate it if
    Baghdadusedthefundsproperly.ManyUnitedNationsstudieshaveshown,
    however,thatIraqisinfactusingthetreatmentappropriately.Infact,thefood
    distributionprogramisconsideredthebestthattheUNhasrun.
    The problems it seems are several. Most of the goods that can be
    imported under the OFFP have to go through a UN Security Council
    committee,whichdeliberatesinsecretandwheretheUS(alongwiththeother
    permanentmembersoftheSecurityCouncil)hasaveto.Recentresearchby
    JoyGordon(CoolWarinNovember2002HarpersMagazine)crackssome
    ofthesecrecytoshowthattheUSroutinelyblocksorputsonholdbillionsof
    dollarsofgoodsthatnooneelse(exceptsometimesGreatBritain)objectsto,
    onthebasiseitherthatthegoodscouldalsobeusedformilitarypurposes
    (dualuse goods) or that more documentation is needed (and then
    procrastinatingontheevaluationofthedocumentation).Childrensvaccines
    (mightbeusedtoextractbiologicalweaponseventhoughEuropeanbiological
    weaponsexpertsflatlysaiditwasimpossible),watertankers(mightbeusedto
    carrychemicalweapons),trucktires,milkproducingequipment,andsoon
    haveallbeenblockedorputonhold.Doctorsherehavetoldmethatoffive
    chemotherapeuticagentsfortreatingcancer(thatwillhaveafiniteshelflife
    andneedtobeusedsimultaneouslytohavethepropereffect)threewillget
    through and two will be delayed until the others have expired. People at
    watertreatmentplantstoldusthattheygotnewequipmenttoreplacetheir
    plantsbutthenfoundtheyweremissingacrucialpart.Andsoon.Ifitall

    22
    soundstoochildishtobetrue,Ihavetroublebelievingit,too.Yetthestories
    havebeenconsistentwithUNdocumentationandjournalisticreportsinthe
    foreignpress.[.]
    Myfriends,thisistheVietnamofthisgeneration.Whatwearedoing
    hereisanunspeakableevil.
    DavidHilfiker,LetterfromDavidHilfiker,ZNet(December23,2002),
    http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=15&ItemID=2788.

    ForfullerstudiesoftheimpositionandadministrationoftheUNsanctions
    againstIraq,see:
    Cockburn,Andrew,andPatrickCockburn.OutoftheAshes:The
    ResurrectionofSaddamHussein.1999;rpt.NewYork:
    HarperPerennial,2000.(Seepp.11439.)
    Gordon,Joy.CoolWar:Economicsanctionsasaweaponofmass
    destruction,HarpersMagazine(November2002),
    http://www.scn.org/ccpi/HarpersJoyGordonNov02.html.
    Pilger,John.Squeezedtodeath,TheGuardian(March4,2000),
    http://www.guardian.co.uk/weekend/story/0,3605,232986,00.html.
    .TheNewRulersoftheWorld.London:Verso,2002.(Pilgerswholly
    devastatinginterviewwithU.S.AssistantSecretaryofStateJames
    Rubinonthesubjectofsanctionsappearsonpp.8290.)
    Rai,Milan.WarPlanIraq:TenReasonsAgainstWaronIraq.London:
    Verso,2002.(Seepp.17584.)

    (d)TheUS/UKnoflyzonesinIraqconstitutedawarcrime
    theestablishmentofthetwonoflyzonesisbasedonnoUNmandateand
    constitutesaseriousbreachofinternationallawandUNresolutionswhich
    makespecificmentionofIraqsterritorialintegrityandsovereignty.Asthe
    UNdesignatedOfficialforSecurityofUNstaffinIraq,Iintroducedairstrike
    reportswhichreflectedcollectedandverifiedinformationondamagetolife
    andpropertyofciviliansasaresultofUS/UKairincursionsandattacksin
    Iraq.In1999myofficeinBaghdadrecorded132airstrikeswith144civilian
    death[s]andover300woundedandcivilianpropertydestroyed[].Itisa
    serious matter that the UN Security Council having a mandated oversight
    responsibility has not been able to stop this serious violation, particularly
    sinceUSandUKpilotshaveoperatedinIraqiairspaceafterOperationDesert
    FoxinDecember1998underenlargedrulesofengagement.Theseallow

    23
    themtousetheirfiringpowerwithfewerrestrictionsandconsequentlywith
    moredamagetocivilianlifeandproperty.
    HansvonSponeck,FourQuestions,FourAnswers(EuropeanColloquium,
    Brussels,September25,2002),http://www.afsc.org/iraq/guide/4questions.shtm.

    TheBushadministrationassertedthatfiringonU.S.aircraftthathad
    enteredIraqiairspaceconstitutedamaterialbreachoftheNovember8UN
    Security Council resolution on Iraq. The charge was quickly, though
    diplomatically,rebuffedbySecretaryGeneralKofiAnnanandseveralforeign
    governments,includingSecurityCouncilmemberChina.TherearenoUN
    resolutionsthatprohibitIraqfrommaintainingitsmilitaryortakingactionin
    defenceofitsterritory.
    VonSponeck,aformerUNassistantsecretarygeneral,scoffsatU.S.
    mediasandgovernmentofficialscharacterizationofthesezonesashavinga
    basis in theUNcharter orSecurityCouncil resolutions. There is noUN
    mandate for the establishment of these two nofly zones. Its an illegal
    establishmentofazoneforbilateralinterestsoftheU.S.andtheU.K.They
    alwaysrefertoresolution688,whichdealswithanappealtotheSecretary
    GeneraltoensuretheprotectionofminoritiesinIraq.Butdespitetheprotests
    raised by von Sponeck and a handful of other UN officials, Washington
    continuestoreceivesupportfromtheUNintheformofsilence.
    JeremyScahill,NoFlyFiasco:U.S.bombssameShiitesenlistedtooustSaddam,
    NowMagazine[Toronto](December1218,2002),21,23.

    TheAmericanandBritishattackonIraqhasalreadybegun.Whilethe
    BlairgovernmentcontinuestoclaiminParliamentthatnofinaldecisionhas
    beentaken,RoyalAirForceandUSfighterbombershavesecretlychanged
    tacticsandescalatedtheirpatrolsoverIraqtoanalloutassaultonboth
    militaryandciviliantargets.[.]
    Under the United Nations Charter and the conventions of war and
    international law, the attacks amount to acts of piracy: no different, in
    principle,fromtheGermanLuftwaffesbombinginSpaininthe1930sas
    precursortoitsinvasionofEurope.
    Thebombingisasecretwarthathasseldombeennews.Since1991,
    and especially in the last four years, it has been unrelenting and is now
    deemedthelongestAngloAmericancampaignofaerialbombardmentsince
    WorldWarTwo.
    TheUSandBritishgovernmentsjustifyitbyclaimingtheyhaveaUN
    mandatetopolicesocallednoflyzoneswhichtheydeclaredfollowingthe
    GulfWar.Theysaythesezones,whichgivethemcontrolofmostofIraqs
    airspace,arelegalandsupportedbyUNSecurityCouncilResolution688.

    24
    Thisisfalse.TherearenoreferencestonoflyzonesinanySecurity
    Councilresolution.Tobesureaboutthis,IaskedDrBoutrosBoutrosGhali,
    whowasSecretaryGeneraloftheUnitedNationsin1992whenResolution
    688waspassed.Theissueofnoflyzoneswasnotraisedandthereforenot
    debated:notaword,hesaid.Theyoffernolegitimacytocountriessending
    theiraircrafttoattackIraq.
    In1999,TonyBlairclaimedthenoflyzonesallowedtheUSandBritain
    toperformavitalhumanitariantaskinprotectingtheKurdsinthenorthof
    IraqandtheethnicMarshArabsinthesouth.Infact,BritishandAmerican
    aircraft have actually provided cover for neighbouring Turkeys repeated
    invasionsofnorthern,KurdishIraq.
    AlongrunninginsurrectionbyTurkeysKurdishpopulationisregarded
    byWashingtonasathreattothestabilityofTurkeysdemocracythatisa
    frontforitsmilitarywhichisamongtheworldsworstviolatorsofhuman
    rights.HundredsofthousandsofTurkishKurdshavebeendisplacedandan
    estimated30,000killed.Turkey,unlikeIraq,isourfriend.
    In1995and1997,asmanyas50,000Turkishtroops,backedbytanks
    andfighteraircraft,occupiedwhattheWestcalledKurdishsafehavens.
    TheyterrorisedKurdishvillagesandmurderedcivilians.InDecember2000,
    theywereback,committingtheatrocitiesthattheTurkishmilitarycommits
    withimpunityagainstitsownKurdishpopulation.
    ForjoiningtheUScoalitionagainstIraq,theTurkishregimeistobe
    rewardedwithabribeworth$6billion.Turkeysinvasionsarerarelyreported
    inBritain.SogreatisthecollusionoftheBlairgovernmentthat,virtually
    unknowntoParliamentandtheBritishpublic,theRAFandtheAmericans
    have,fromtimetotime,deliberatelysuspendedtheirhumanitarianpatrols
    toallowtheTurkstogetonwithkillingKurdsinIraq.
    InMarchlastyear[2001],RAFpilotspatrollingthenoflyzonein
    Kurdish Iraq publicly protested for the first time about their enforced
    complicityintheTurkishcampaign.Thepilotscomplained thattheywere
    frequentlyorderedtoreturntotheirbaseinTurkeytoallowtheTurkishair
    forcetobombtheverypeopletheyweremeanttobeprotecting.
    SpeakingonanonattributablebasistoDrEricHerring,aseniorlecturer
    inpoliticsatBristolUniversityandaspecialistonIraqisanctions,thepilots
    saidwhenevertheTurkswantedtoattacktheKurdsinIraq,RAFpatrolswere
    recalledtobaseandgroundcrewsweretoldtoswitchofftheirradarsothat
    theTurkstargetswouldnotbevisible.OneBritishpilotreportedseeingthe
    devastationinKurdishvillagescausedbytheattacksoncehehadresumedhis
    patrol.
    Americanpilots,whoflyintandemwiththeBritish,arealsoorderedto
    turn their planes around and turn back to Turkey to allow the Turks to
    devastatetheKurdishsafehavens.
    YoudseeTurkishF14sandF16sinbound,loadedtothegillswith
    munitions,onepilottoldthe WashingtonPost.Thentheydcomeouthalf

    25
    anhourlaterwiththeirmunitionsexpended.WhentheAmericansreturnedto
    Iraqiairspace,hesaid,theywouldseeburningvillages,lotsofsmokeand
    fire.
    The Turks do no more than American and British aircraft in their
    humanitarian guise. The sheer scale of the AngloAmerican bombing is
    astonishing, with Britain a very junior partner. During the 18 months to
    January 1999 (the last time I was able to confirm official US figures)
    American aircraft flew 36,000 sorties over Iraq, including 24,000 combat
    missions.
    Thetermcombatishighlydeceptive.Iraqhasvirtuallynoairforce
    andnomodernairdefences.Thus,combatmeansdroppingbombsorfiring
    missilesatinfrastructurethathasbeenlaidtowastebya12yearoldembargo.
    The Wall Street Journal, the authentic voice of the American
    establishment,describedthiseloquentlywhenitreportedthattheUSfaceda
    genuinedilemmainIraq.Aftereightyearsofenforcinganoflyzonein
    northern (andsouthern)Iraq, few targets remain. Were downto thelast
    outhouse,oneUSofficialprotested.
    JohnPilger,TheSecretWar:TheUSWarAgainstIraqiswellunderway,The
    Mirror(December20,2002),http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?
    SectionID=15&ItemID=2776.

    SeealsothearticleslistedunderNoFlyZonesat
    http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/iraq/flyindex.htm.

    4.U.S./U.K.WarCrimesinthe2003AttackonIraq
    Thissectioncontainsexcerpts fromtexts byMichael Byers,writers ofthe
    CanadianPressnewsagency,ChristineDelphy,RobertFisk,DinahPoKempner,
    Stephen Kerr, Adrian Kuzminski, Michele Landsberg, Michael Mandel and Gail
    Davidson, Rahul Mahajan, Grant McCool, John Pilger, Barbara Stocking, and
    MickeyZ.

    (a)Preemptivewar(i.e.unprovokedattack)isawarcrime
    Whatprohibitsmilitaryforceisinternationallaw.TheCharterofthe
    UnitedNationsallowswaronlywhereitfitswithinthenarrowconfinesofthe

    26
    rightofselfdefenceorwhereitisexplicitlyandvalidlyauthorizedbythe
    SecurityCouncilafterallpeacefulalternativeshavebeenexhausted.Thats
    becausetheCharterregardswarasascourgeanditsmainpurposewasto
    banitwhereitwasnotabsolutelynecessaryanddemonstratedassuchtothe
    lawfullyconstitutedassemblyofstates,namelytheSecurityCouncil.
    WithoutanexplicitauthorizationfromtheSecurityCouncil,themere
    violation ofaresolutionisnotenoughtoentitle anystateorstatestouse
    militaryforcetoenforceit.IsraelhasbeeninviolationofnumerousSecurity
    Councilresolutionsforthirtyfiveyears,butnoneofthemexplicitlyauthorize
    theuseofforce.Areourgovernmentssayingthatanystatehastherightto
    attackIsraeltoenforcecompliancewiththeseresolutions?
    WhytrytodistorttheplainmeaningofResolution1441?
    IsitbecausewithoutrealSecurityCouncilauthority,andlackingany
    claim of selfdefence beyond the delusional, a US war on Iraq would
    constitute what the Nuremberg tribunal called the supreme international
    crime, the crime against peace? In fact, without valid Security Council
    authority,CanadasveryparticipationinthiswarwouldmakePrimeMinister
    Chrtien and his colleagues personally guilty of murder and other crimes
    againsthumanity.[.]
    Intentional killing without lawful justification or excuse is murder.
    Whenitspremeditated,itsfirstdegreemurder.InternationalPhysiciansfor
    thePreventionofNuclearWarcalculatesthatwaragainstIraqwillresultin
    thedeathofaminimumof50,000Iraqis,mostofwhomwillbecivilians.
    ThereareanawfullotofpeopleservinglifesentencesinCanadianprisonsfor
    themurderofjustoneperson.ThelawdoesntcareifthevictimisaCanadian
    oranIraqi,anditdoesntcareifthecriminalisaPrimeMinisterorapauper.
    BylettertothePrimeMinisterdatedJanuary23,LawyersAgainstthe
    WarputthegovernmentofCanadaonnoticethatwewillpursueprosecution
    ofallresponsiblegovernmentofficialsonallappropriatecharges,including
    murderandcrimesagainsthumanity,inboththeCanadianandinternational
    criminalcourts.BritishandAmericanlawyersmadesimilardeclarationsto
    theirgovernments.Wemeanit.
    MichaelMandelandGailDavidson,Resolution1441andtheSecurityCouncil,
    ZNet(February6,2003),http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?
    SectionID=21&ItemID=2978.

    In1946thejudgesatNurembergwhotriedtheNazileadersforwar
    crimesleftnodoubtaboutwhattheyregardedasthegravestcrimesagainst
    humanity.
    The most serious was unprovoked invasion of a sovereign state that
    offerednothreattooneshomeland.Thentherewasthemurderofcivilians,
    forwhichresponsibilityrestedwiththehighestauthority.

    27
    Blairisabouttocommitboththesecrimes,forwhichheisbeingdenied
    eventheflimsiestofUnitedNationscovernowthattheweaponsinspectors
    havefound,asoneputit,zilch.
    LikethoseinthedockatNuremberg,hehasnodemocraticcover.Using
    thearchaicroyalprerogativehedidnotconsultparliamentorthepeople
    when he dispatched 35,000 troops and ships and aircraft to the Gulf; he
    consultedaforeignpower,theWashingtonregime.
    Unelectedin2000,theWashingtonregimeofGeorgeWBushisnow
    totalitarian,capturedbyacliquewhosefanaticismandambitionsofendless
    warandfullspectrumdominanceareamatterofrecord.Alltheworld
    knowstheirnames:Bush,Rumsfeld,Rice,Wolfowitz,CheneyandPerle,and
    Powell, the false liberal. Bushs State of the Union speech last night was
    reminiscentofthatothergreatmomentin1938whenHitlercalledhisgenerals
    togetherandtoldthem:Imusthavewar.Hethenhadit.TocallBlairamere
    poodle is to allow him distance from the killing ofinnocent Iraqi men,
    womenandchildrenforwhichhewillshareresponsibility.
    Heistheembodimentofthemostdangerousappeasementhumanityhas
    knownsincethe1930s.ThecurrentAmericaneliteistheThirdReichofour
    times,althoughthisdistinctionoughtnottoletusforgetthattheyhavemerely
    acceleratedmorethanhalfacenturyofunrelentingAmericanstateterrorism:
    fromtheatomicbombsdroppedcynicallyonJapanasasignaloftheirnew
    powertothedozensofcountries invaded,directlyorbyproxy,todestroy
    democracy wherever it collided with American interests, such as a
    voraciousappetitefortheworldsresources,likeoil.
    JohnPilger,BlairisaCoward,TheDailyMirror(February2,2003).

    Clearly a state subject to armed attack from another state (or a nonstate
    group)hastherighttofightback.ThisbasicrightisenshrinedinArticle51of
    the U.N. Charter. The problem for international lawyers here lies in
    determiningwhethertherehasbeenanarmedattackandwhethertheresponse
    to that armed attack is necessary and proportionate. A further difficulty
    associatedwithselfdefenceconcernstheavailabilityofarighttoanticipatory
    selfdefence.
    Thissocalledrightcomesintwoversions.Inthefirst,morelimitedand
    moreplausible,versionastatecanuseforcetodefenditselffromanimminent
    armedattackbyanotherentity.Inotherwords,thereisnoneedforastateto
    waitforanattackbeforeattackingitsopponent.
    Thesecondversion,nowtermedtheBushDoctrine,seemstoenvisage
    an expandedversion ofthis right whereby states can use forcetoprevent
    future, possible but by no means imminent armed attacks from potential
    enemies.Thisisthedoctrinethatwouldbeusedtojustifyauseofforcebythe
    UnitedStatesagainstIraqintheabsenceofaSecurityCouncilResolution.
    Suchadoctrinewouldbehighlycontroversialamonginternationallawyers.It

    28
    wouldalso,ifuniversallyavailable,representaseriousthreattointernational
    order.
    LawyersGrapplewithAttackonIraq,AlterNet(January31,2003),
    http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/iraq/attack/law/2003/0131lawyergrap.ht
    m.

    In a fundamental change of policy, the Bush administration has


    embraced the doctrine of preemptive war, including the first strike use of
    nuclear weapons, and is now applying it to Iraq. Speaking in Davos,
    Switzerland, on26January2003,US Secretary ofState, ColinL.Powell,
    said: We continue to reserve our sovereign right to take military action
    againstIraqaloneorinacoalitionofthewilling
    There is no such unqualified sovereign right. On the contrary, as a
    member state of the United Nations, the US is obliged by law to pursue
    peacefulmeansininternationalrelations,asstatedintheUNCharter,Chapter
    1,Article2:
    AllMembersshallsettletheirinternationaldisputesbypeacefulmeans
    insuchamannerthatinternationalpeaceandsecurity,andjustice,arenot
    endangered;and,allMembersshallrefrainintheirinternationalrelationsfrom
    the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political
    independenceofanystate[].
    TheUNCharterdoesrecognizetheuseofunilateralmilitaryforcebya
    memberstate,butonlyforpurposesofselfdefenseandonlywhenanarmed
    attackhasoccurredagainstthatstate,asstatedinChapter7,Article51ofthe
    UNCharter:
    Nothing in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right of
    individual or collective selfdefence if an armed attack occurs against a
    MemberoftheUnitedNations,untiltheSecurityCouncilhastakenmeasures
    necessarytomaintaininternationalpeaceandsecurity.
    Iraqhasnotbeenshowntohavecarriedoutanarmedattackonthe
    UnitedStates.Noevidencehasbeenofferedthatassignsanyresponsibilityto
    IraqfortheattacksontheUnitedStatesmadeon11September2001,orany
    otherattacks.IraqhasnotbeenshowntobeacrediblethreattotheUS.
    Possessionofweapons ofmass destruction byIraq,weapons already
    widely distributed among many countries, does not constitute an armed
    attackonanyone;nordoesitjustifyunilateralUSmilitaryaction.Ifsuch
    weaponsareathreattoitsneighboursoranyoneelse,includingtheUS,thisis
    amatterforUNaction,notunilateralAmericanmilitaryactionoutsidethe
    UN.
    AdrianKuzminski,USPreparedtoViolateInternationalLaw,Coastal
    ConvergenceSociety(February1,2003),
    http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/iraq/attack/law/2003/0201powell.htm.

    29

    Iraq is threatening no country with aggression and its violations of


    SecurityCouncilresolutions,whileclear,aretechnical,mostlyamatterof
    providingcompletedocumentationaboutweaponsthatmayormaynotexist,
    andfortheuseofwhichtherearenoapparentplans.[.]
    [] Iraq has been under illegal attack for the past decade, with
    numerousbombingsincludingtheDesertFoxcampaign,evenasitwascalled
    ontostartobeyinginternationallaw.
    TheUnitedStatesalsotooknumerousillegalorquestionablylegalsteps
    tosubvertthelegalregimeofcontainmentpassingtheIraqLiberation
    Act in October 1998, which provided $97 million for groups trying to
    overthrowtheIraqigovernment,aclearviolationofIraqisovereigntyanda
    violationofinternationallaw;statingthatonlywithregimechangewouldthe
    sanctionsbelifted,inviolationofUNSecurityCouncilResolution687;and
    usingweaponsinspectionstocommitespionage,theinformationfromwhich
    wasthenusedintargetingdecisionsduringDesertFox.[.]
    [] the war the United States is planning on Iraq is an act of
    premeditated aggression. [.] First, in August [2002], Defense Secretary
    Rumsfeldorderedthatthelistofbombingtargetsbeextendedfarbeyondany
    goalofenforcingthenoflyzonestoincludecommandandcontrolcenters
    andingeneraltogobeyondsimplereactiontothreats[].ByDecember
    2002,theshiftcouldbenotedina300%increaseinordnancedroppedper
    threat detecteda clear signthat simply defending theoverflights was no
    longer the primary aim of the bombings. According to the Guardian,
    Whitehall officials have admitted privately that the nofly patrols,
    conductedbyRAFandUSaircraft frombasesinKuwait,aredesignedto
    weakenIraqsairdefensesystemsandhavenothingtodowiththeirstated
    originalpurpose.
    Weakeningairdefenseandcommandandcontrolarethestandardfirst
    stepsinallU.S.warssince1991,sothefirstsalvoesinthewarwerebeing
    fired even as inspections continued. In the first two months of this year,
    bombingsoccurredalmosteveryotherday.[.]
    Thewarwasbeingseriouslyplannedfromatleastthespringof2002,
    butinthesummertherewasaseriousinternaldebateinthemilitarybetweena
    socalledAfghanoptionwith5075,000troopsandheavyrelianceonair
    powerandIraqioppositionforcesandtheeventualplan,DesertStormlite,
    with200250,000troopsandafullscaleinvasion.
    ThedecisionwasmadeinlateAugust,butthemoreinvolvedplan[]
    requiredatleastasixmonthdeployment.Eversincethen,thetimetablehas
    notbeenoneofdiplomacy,U.N.resolutions,andweaponsinspections,but
    ratheroneofdeployment,strongarmingofregionalalliesneededasstageing
    areasfortheinvasion,and,quitelikely,replenishmentofstocksofprecision
    weaponsdepletedinthewaronAfghanistan.[.]

    30
    Infact,theU.S.waronIraqisitselfthemostfundamentalviolationof
    internationallaw.InthelanguagecoinedattheNurembergtrials,itisacrime
    against peace. Former Supreme Court Justice Robert Jackson, chief U.S.
    prosecutor at the first Nuremberg trial, called waging aggressive war the
    supremeinternationalcrimedifferingonlyfromotherwarcrimesinthatit
    containswithinitselftheaccumulatedevilofthewhole.
    It surely is unprecedented in world history that a country is under
    escalatingattack;toldrepeatedlythatitwillbesubjectedtoafullscalewar;
    required to disarm itself before that war; and then castigated by the
    internationalcommunityforsignificantbutpartialcompliance.
    RahulMahajan,UNResolutionornot,thiswarisillegal,ZNet(March14,2003),
    http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=15&ItemID=3237.

    (b)Thebombingofciviliansisawarcrime
    Ifwarisforceduponus,wewillfightinajustcauseand
    byjustmeanssparing,ineverywaywecan,theinnocent.
    GeorgeW.Bush,inhisStateoftheUnionAddress,
    January28,2003
    ThePentagonrecentlyrevealeditsplanforthefirstdayoftheinevitable
    saturationbombingofIraq.Baghdad,inparticular.OnAirStrikesDay(or
    ADay)theUSandBritainwilllaunch300to400cruisemissilesintoIraq.
    Thatsmoremissilesthanwerelaunchedduringtheentire40dayPersian
    Gulfwarof1991,saysJamesRidgewayintheVillageVoice.
    Thefollowingday,another400missileswillbelaunched.Thesheer
    sizeofthishasneverbeencontemplatedbefore,onePentagonstrategisttold
    CBSNews.TherewillnotbeasafeplaceinBaghdad.Inwarspeak,this
    planiscalledshockandawe.Theideaistocrushtheenemyswilltofight.
    Accordingtomilitary strategistHarlanUllman, theplannedattack willbe
    ratherlikethenuclearweaponsatHiroshima.AirStrikesDaywilltakethe
    citydown,wipeoutthewaterandpowersuppliesinBaghdad,andleavethe
    Iraqisphysically,emotionally,andpsychologicallyexhausted.
    WhatBushproposes,saysRidgeway,isnotcollateraldamage,buta
    levelofciviliandestructionnotseensincetheSecondWorldWar,withtensof
    thousandsofintendedciviliancasualties.
    MickeyZ,FromDresdentoBaghdad:58YearsofShockandAwe,ZNet
    (February8,2003),http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?
    SectionID=40&ItemID=3003.

    31
    Last week the Pentagon in Washington announced matter of factly that it
    intended to shatter Iraq physically, emotionally and psychologically by
    rainingdownonitspeople800cruisemissilesintwodays.
    Thiswillbemorethantwicethenumberofmissileslaunchedduringthe
    entire40daysofthe1991GulfWar.
    A military strategist named Harlan Ullman told American television:
    TherewillnotbeasafeplaceinBaghdad.Thesheersizeofthishasnever
    beenseenbefore,neverbeencontemplatedbefore.
    ThestrategyisknownasShockandAweandUllmanisapparentlyits
    proudinventor.Hesaid:Youhavethissimultaneouseffect,ratherlikethe
    nuclearweaponsatHiroshima,nottakingdaysorweeksbutminutes.What
    willhisHiroshimaeffectactuallydotoapopulationofwhomalmosthalf
    arechildrenundertheageof14?
    TheansweristobefoundinaconfidentialUNdocument,basedon
    WorldHealthOrganisationestimates,whichsaysthatasmanyas500,000
    peoplewouldrequiretreatmentasaresultofdirectandindirectinjuries.A
    BushBlairattackwilldestroyafunctioningprimaryhealthcaresystemand
    denycleanwaterto39percentofthepopulation.Thereislikely[tobe]an
    outbreakofdiseasesinepidemicorpandemicproportions.
    JohnPilger,BlairisaCoward.TheDailyMirror(February2,2003).

    ThechildrenofIraqarehauntedbythefearofnotgettingtogrowup,of
    burningtodeath,ofcryingfortheirdeadmamaamidsttherubbleoftheir
    home,accordingtoareportbytheInternationalStudyTeam.[.]
    ThechildrenmaynotknowthatthehawksandmilitaristsintheUnited
    Statesarebandyingaboutthetheoriesofshockandawe,theideabeingthat
    theywillpoundBaghdadwith800cruisemissilesinthefirsttwodaysofthe
    war, one every four minutes, so that Iraq buckles to its knees in total
    devastation,presumablyshockedandoverawed.Butthechildrenknowthat
    theyarehelplessagainstthethunderingonslaught.
    Someoftheyoungestpreschoolerscling,heartbreakingly,tomagical
    comforts:oneissurethatsheisprotectedwhenhersisterholdsablanketover
    theirheads.
    The International Study Team is a group of eminent researchers,
    academicsandpractitionerswhofirstdocumentedthehumanitarianimpacts
    oftheGulfWarin1991.Theteamjustcompletedanothertourofinspection
    inIraqattheendofJanuaryandhasissuedOurCommonResponsibility,The
    ImpactofaNewWarOnIraqiChildren.ThereportisavailablefromWar
    ChildCanada(4169717474)oratwww.warchild.ca.
    Theteam interviewed children intheir homes andschools,andwere
    strucktodiscoverthatparentshavefoundnogoodwaytoinformorcomfort
    theirchildren

    32
    Whatistheretosay,afterall?Thechildrenareconsumedbyfear,and
    eventheirownparentscannotprotectthemfromthecomingfirestorm.[.]
    IdbeastoundediftheAmericansdrewbackfromthebrink,nomatter
    howeventsunfold.ButCanadadoesnothavetofollowthemintowhatwill
    amounttoabloodyslaughter.Perhapsthemostpowerfulmorallessonyou
    caneverteachyourchildrenistoputyourfeetonthestreettoday,andinthe
    weekstocome,tosaynotowar.
    MicheleLandsberg,,ChildrenofIraqliveinterrorofU.S.onslaught,TorontoStar
    (February15,2003):K1.

    Oxfamhas60yearsexperienceofworkinginconflict.Weknowtheimpact
    thatmilitaryactionhasoncivilians.Insomecases,asinRwanda,military
    action is necessary tosavelives andis justified. But, onthebasis ofour
    experienceandthecurrentevidence,wecannotseehowamilitarystrikeon
    Iraqcanbejustified,norindeedhowsuchanattackcouldbewagedwithout
    violatinginternationalhumanitarianlaw.[.]
    A recent visit to Iraq by aid agency experts, including an Oxfam
    specialist,confirmedthatthewaterandsanitationsystemisonthevergeof
    collapse.[.]
    Anymilitaryactionthatdamagespowersupplieswillinevitablydestroy
    thealreadyfragilewaterandsanitationsystem.Inevitably,diseasewillsweep
    throughthepopulation.Anyattackthataffectsroads,portsorrailwayswill
    leadtothecollapseofthesystemoffooddistributionuponwhichthebulkof
    Iraqspopulationdepends.
    Article54ofAdditionalProtocol1oftheGenevaconventionprohibits
    attacksuponobjectsindispensabletothesurvivalofthecivilianpopulation.
    InIraq,thismustbetakentoincludeports,roads,railwaysandpowerlines.
    Theconventionstatesthatinnoeventshallactionsagainsttheseobjectsbe
    taken which might be expected to leave the civilian population with such
    inadequatefoodorwaterastocauseitsstarvationorforceitsmovement.
    BarbaraStocking,DirectorofOxfam,IraqisSufferingCanBeMadeWorse,
    InternationalHeraldTribune(December27,2002),
    http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/iraq/attack/law/2002/1227oxfam.htm.

    Internationalhumanitarianlaw,thejusinbello,concernsthewaywars
    maybefought.Itisdistinctfromthelawgoverningwhenwarsmaybefought
    (thejusadbellumofselfdefenceandtheUNCharter).[.]Today,therules
    ofinternationalhumanitarianlawarefoundinthe1907HagueConventions,
    the1949GenevaConventionsandtheirtwoAdditionalProtocolsof1977,as
    wellasinaparallelbodyofunwrittencustomaryinternationallawthatbinds
    all countries, including those that have not ratified the Conventions and

    33
    Protocols.Acentralprincipleprohibitsthedirecttargetingofcivilians,aswell
    asattacksonmilitarytargetsthatcouldbeexpectedtocauseciviliansuffering
    disproportionatetothespecificmilitarygoalstobeachieved.[.]
    Afterdecadesofmassivedefencespending,theUSistodayassuredof
    victoryinanywaritchoosestofight.Hightechweaponryhasreducedthe
    dangers to US personnel, making it easier to sell war to domestic
    constituencies.Asaresult,someUSpoliticianshavebeguntothinkofwar,
    notasthehighriskrecourseoflastresort,butasanattractiveforeignpolicy
    option in times of domestic scandal or economic decline. This change in
    thinkinghasalreadyledtoamorecavalierapproachtothejusadbellum,as
    exemplifiedbytheBushdoctrineofpreemptiveselfdefence.Itisbeginning
    tohaveasimilareffectwithregardtothejusinbello.Whenwarisseenasan
    ordinary tool of foreign policypolitics by other meanspolitical and
    financialconsiderations impingeonthebalance betweenmilitarynecessity
    andhumanitarianconcerns.[.]
    InWashington,ithasbecomeacceptedwisdomthatfutureopponents
    arethemselvesunlikelytoabidebyinternationalhumanitarianlaw.[.]If
    yourenemyisgoingtocheat,whybotherplayingbytherules?
    MichaelByers,TheLawsofWar,USStyle,LondonReviewofBooks,vol.25,no.
    4(February20,2003):910.

    A group of U.S. law professors opposed to a possible war on Iraq


    warned U.S. president George W. Bush on Friday that he and senior
    governmentofficials couldbeprosecutedforwarcrimesifmilitarytactics
    violatedinternationalhumanitarianlaw.
    Ourprimaryconcernisthelargenumberofciviliancasualtiesthat
    mayresultshouldU.S.andcoalitionforcesfailtocomplywithinternational
    humanitarian law in using force against Iraq, the group, led by the New
    Yorkbased Center for Constitutional Rights, said in a letter to Bush and
    DefenseSecretaryDonaldRumsfeld.
    ThegroupcitedtheparticularneedforU.S.andcoalitionforcestoabide
    byhumanitarianlawrequiringwarringpartiestodistinguishbetweenmilitary
    andcivilianareas,useonlythelevelofforcethatismilitarilynecessaryandto
    useweaponrythatisproportionatetowhatisbeingtargeted.
    Theletter,whichhadmorethan100signatories,saidtheruleshadbeen
    broken in other recent wars. It said air strikes on populated cities, carpet
    bombingandtheuseoffuelairexplosiveswereexamplesofinappropriate
    militaryactiontakenduringthe1991GulfWar,the1999Kosovocampaign
    andthe2001Afghanconflictthatledtociviliancasualtiesandmightbeused
    againinIraq.
    GrantMcCool,USLawyersWarnBushonWarCrimes,LawyersAgainsttheWar
    (January28,2003),

    34
    http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/iraq/attack/law/2003/0128uslawyers.htm
    .

    Americans areinnovators,andwehaveinventedanewstyleofwar.
    Nowwewantnewrulesaswell.ThisiscriticalaswarwithIraqloomsand
    major world powers convene in closed session at Harvard University to
    discuss reinterpreting the Geneva Conventions and the laws of war that
    providesomeminimalprotectiontononcombatants.[.]
    []theUSview[is]thatitisacceptabletoattackcivilianmoraleinthe
    formofnonmilitarytargetswhosedestructioncanunderminepublicsupport
    forwar:turningthelightsoffinBelgradeorBaghdad,targetingtheenemys
    industrialistsupporters,destroyingcivilianpropagandaoutletsorsymbolsof
    theregimesuchasmonumentsorcivilianadministration.Allareofflimits
    under international law, which limits attacks to targets that make a direct
    contributiontomilitaryaction.
    ThewayAmericansapproachtheissueofciviliancasualtiesisdifferent
    aswell.Thelawforbidsattackswherethecosttocivilianlivesandproperty
    willbeexcessiveinrelationtothedirectandconcretemilitaryadvantageof
    achievingaparticulartarget.Americans,andtosomedegreetheBritish,wish
    toequatetheideaofanattackwithanentirecampaign,anoverallmilitary
    objective,orevenapoliticalobjectivesuchasregimechange.[.]
    Why,intheend,dotheserules,framedinothertimesforotherbattles,
    still matter? The fact that Switzerland [which bears responsibility for
    administeringtheGenevaConventions],upontheobjectionofsomestates,
    refusedtoadmitthemediaorcivilsocietygroupstothemeetingatHarvard
    shouldraisealarmbells.[.]
    ItisironicthatatthemomenttheUnitedStates,byvirtueofitsmilitary
    prowess,canmostaffordtosetthehigheststandardinarmedconflict,itis
    backingawayfromtimehonoredlawsthatimposetheconstraintsofhumanity
    uponslaughter.
    DinahPoKempner(generalcounselatHumanRightsWatch),Americas
    DangerousNewStyleofWar,BostonGlobe(January29,2003),
    http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/iraq/attack/law/2003/0129dangerous.ht
    m

    Thewoundsareviciousanddeep,arashofscarletspotsonthebackand
    thighsorface,theshardsofshrapnelfromtheclusterbombsburiedaninchor
    moreintheflesh.ThewardsoftheHillahteachinghospitalareproofthat
    something illegalsomething quite outside the Geneva Conventions
    occurredinthevillagesaroundthecityonceknownasBabylon.
    Thewailingchildren,theyoungwomenwithbreastandlegwounds,the
    10patientsuponwhomdoctorshadtoperformbrainsurgerytoremovemetal
    from their heads, talk of the days and nights when explosives fell like

    35
    grapesfromthesky.Clusterbombs,thedoctorssayandthedetritusofthe
    airraidsaroundthehamletsofNadrandDjifilandAkraminandMahawiland
    MohandesinandHailAskerishowsthattheyareright.
    WeretheyAmericanorBritishaircraftthatshoweredthesevillageswith
    oneofthemostlethalweaponsofmodernwarfare?The61deadwhohave
    passedthroughtheHillahhospitalsinceSaturdaynightcannottellus.Norcan
    thesurvivorswho,inmanycases,weresittingintheirhomeswhenthewhite
    cannistersopenedhighabovetheirvillage,spillingthousandsofbombletsinto
    thesky,explodingintheair,soaringthroughwindowsanddoorwaystoburst
    indoorsorbouncingofftheroofsoftheconcretehutstoblowuplaterinthe
    roadways.[.]
    Somevictimsdiedatonce,mostlywomenandchildren,someofwhose
    blackened,decomposingremainslayinthetinycharnelhousemortuaryatthe
    back of the Hillah hospital. The teaching college received more than 200
    woundedsinceSaturdaynightthe61deadareonlythosewhowerebrought
    to the hospital or who died during or after surgery, and many others are
    believedtohavebeenburiedintheirhomevillagesand,ofthese,doctors
    sayabout80percentwerecivilians.
    Soldiers there certainly were, at least 40 if these statistics are to be
    believed,andamidthefoulclothingofthedeadoutsidethemortuarydoorI
    foundakhakimilitarybeltandacombatjacket.Butvillagemencanalsobe
    soldiersandboththeyandtheirwivesanddaughtersinsistedtherewereno
    militaryinstallationsaroundtheirhomes.Trueorfalse?Whoistoknowifa
    tankoramissilelauncherwaspositioned inanearbyfieldas theywere
    alongthehighwaynorthtoBaghdad?ButtheGenevaConventionsdemand
    protectionforcivilianseveniftheyareintermingledwithmilitarypersonnel,
    and the use of cluster bombs in these villageseven if aimed at military
    targetsthuscrossestheboundariesofinternationallaw.
    Soitwasthat27yearoldAsilYamincametoreceivethoseawfulround
    woundsinherback.AndsofiveyearoldZamanAbbaiswashitinthelegs
    and48yearoldSamiraAbdulHamzaintheeyes,chestandlegs.Herson
    Haidar,a32yearold soldier,saidthecontainerswhichfelltotheground
    werewhitewithsomeredandgreensometimespaintedonthem.Itislikea
    grenadeandtheycameintothehouses,hesaid.Somestayedontheland,
    othersexploded.
    Heartbreakingistheonlywordtodescribe10yearoldMaryamNasr
    andherfiveyearoldsisterHoda.Maryamhasapatchoverherrighteye
    where a piece of bomblet embedded itself. She also had wounds to the
    stomachandthighs.IdidntrealisethatHoda,standingbyhersistersbed,
    waswoundeduntilhermothercarefullyliftedthelittlegirlsscarfandlong
    hairtoshowadeeppunctureintherightsideofherhead,justaboveherear,
    congealedbloodstickingtoherhairbutthewoundstillgentlybleeding.Their
    motherdescribedhowshehadbeeninsideherhomeandheardanexplosion
    andfoundherdaughterslyingintheirownbloodnearthedoor.Thelittlegirls

    36
    alternately smiled and hid when I took their pictures. In other words, the
    hideously wounded would try to laugh, to show their bravery. It was a
    humblingexperience.[.]
    ItisnoteasytolistentoIraqiofficialscondemningtheuseofillegal
    weaponswhentheIraqiairforcehasitselfdroppedpoisongasontheIranian
    armyandonproIranianKurdishvillagesduringthe198088waragainstIran.
    OutragedclaimsfromIraqiofficialsattheabuseofhumanrightssoundlikea
    bellwithaveryhollowring.ButsomethingterriblehappenedaroundHillah
    this week, something unforgivable and something contrary to international
    law.Onehesitates,asIsay,totalkabouthumanrightsinthislandoftorture
    but if the Americans and British dont watch out, they are likely to find
    themselvescondemnedforwhattheyhavealwaysandrightlyaccusedIraq
    of:warcrimes.
    RobertFisk,Wailingchildren,thewounded,thedead;victimsofthedaycluster
    bombsrainedonBabylon,TheIndependent(April3,2003),
    http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=15&ItemID=3383.

    RedCrossdoctorswhovisitedsouthernIraqthisweeksawincredible
    levelsofciviliancasualtiesincludingatruckloadofdismemberedwomenand
    children,aspokesmansaidThursdayfromBaghdad.
    Roland Huguenin,oneofsixInternational Red Cross workers inthe
    Iraqicapital,saiddoctorswerehorrifiedbythecasualtiestheyfoundinthe
    hospitalinHilla,about160kilometressouthofBaghdad.
    There has been an incredible number of casualties with very, very
    serious wounds intheregion ofHilla, Hugueninsaid inaninterview by
    satellitetelephone.
    Wesawthatatruckwasdeliveringdozensoftotallydismembereddead
    bodies of women and children. It was an awful sight. It was really very
    difficulttobelievethiswashappening.
    HugueninsaidthedeadandinjuredinHillacamefromthevillageof
    Nasiriyah,wheretherehasbeenheavyfightingbetweenAmericantroopsand
    Iraqisoldiers,andappearedtobetheresultsofbombs,projectiles.
    At this stage we cannot comment on the nature of what happened
    exactlyatthatplacebutitwasdefinitelyadifferentpatternfromwhatwe
    hadseeninBasraorBaghdad.
    TherewillbeinvestigationsIamsure.
    BaghdadandBasraarecopingrelativelywellwiththeflowofwounded,
    saidHuguenin,estimatingthatBaghdadhospitalshavebeengettingabout100
    woundedaday.
    Mostofthewoundedinthetwolargecitieshavesufferedsuperficial
    shrapnelwounds,withonlyabout15percentrequiringinternalsurgery,he
    said.
    ButthepatterninHillawascompletelydifferent.

    37
    InthecaseofHilla,everybodyhadveryseriouswoundsandmany,
    manyofthemsmallkidsandwomen.Wehadsmalltoddlersoftwoorthree
    yearsofagewhohadlosttheirlegs,theirarms.Wehavecalledthisahorror.
    Atleast400peopleweretakentotheHillahospitaloveraperiodoftwo
    days,hesaidfarbeyonditscapacity.
    Doctorsworkedaroundtheclocktodoasmuchastheycould.They
    justhadtomanage,thatwasall.
    Thecityisnolongeraccessible,headded.
    RedCrossstaffarealsoconcernedaboutwhatmaybehappeningin
    othersmallercentressouthofBaghdad.
    WedonotknowwhatisgoingoninNajafandKabala.Ithasbecome
    physicallyimpossibleforustoreachouttothosecitiesbecausethemajorroad
    hasbecomeazoneofcombat.
    CanadianPress(April6,2003),
    http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/%201049413227648_10/?
    %20hub=SpecialEvent3.

    (c)TheU.S.sintendeduseofchemicalweaponswouldbeawar
    crime
    InadditiontobombingIraqiciviliansinNasiriyahandelsewhere,theUnited
    States madeitclear priortotheinvasionofIraqthatitwaspreparedtodeploy
    chemical weapons against the population of Baghdad. Testifying on February 5,
    2003beforetheHouseArmedServicesCommittee,DonaldRumsfeldwasaskedby
    Congressman Meehan whether the U.S. has plans to use socalled nonlethal
    weaponstodisarmanddispersearmedciviliansencounteredbyU.S.forcesduring
    theintensestreetfightinginBaghdadthatwaspromisedbytheIraqidictatorship.
    StephenKerrwritesasfollowsaboutRumsfeld'sresponse.

    AUSGermanNGO,theSunshineProject,hasrevealedhowtheJoint
    NonLethalWeaponsDirectorate(JNLWD),workingwithscientistsatPenn
    State University's Marine Corps Research facility and the US Army
    Edgewood Biological and Chemical Center, have been researching and
    developingachemicalweaponsimilartothatwhichkilled20%ofthosewho
    wereexposedtoitatthePalaceofCultureTheatreinMoscowinOctober
    2002.AtrailofdeclassifieddocumentsDonaldRumsfeldwouldrathernot
    discussclearlyillustratestheprocess,andyoucanfindsomeofthemonthe
    websiteoftheSunshineProjectatwww.sunshineproject.org.
    Fentanyl,apowerfulsedativedrug,isusedasasurgicalanestheticand
    isalsoknownasSublimaze,increasinglyastreetdrugofabuse.Thereisa
    growing body of evidence to suggest that JNLWD has transformed this

    38
    narcotic andothers suchas Ketamine (Special K)intoanew nonlethal
    weaponwhichwillputeveryoneinaroomtosleep,combatants,andnon
    combatants, according to a JNLWD commander. Another document
    identifies hungry refugees, unwilling to wait for the distribution of
    emergencyfood,asatargetforthesenewnonlethalchemicalweapons.
    And according to Defence Department Directive 3000.3, the non
    lethalpartoftheweaponisnt100%.
    SoCongressmanMeehanwantedtoknowifAmericahadanyplansfor
    thehostileuseofFentanylorothernovelgasesonIraqicivilians,thoughhe
    didntquiteputitthatway.
    After a long pause, and the standard reminder about how Saddam
    Husseinliesabouteverysinglethinghesays,Rumsfeldmadeastartling
    admission;theUnitedStatesisplanningfortheuseofgasagainstanyIraqis
    who resist the American invasion, and has already employed such illegl
    weaponsintheWaronTerror.Rumsfeldknowsthelawisnotonhisside.He
    admittedasmuchwhenhestated,Withrespecttotheuseofnonlethalriot
    agentsIregrettosaythatweareinaverydifficultsituation.Thereisatreaty
    that the United States signed [the Chemical Weapons Convention
    www.opcw.org].Rumsfeldpauses,thenletmeputitthisway,absenta
    Presidential waiver in many instances our forces are allowed to shoot
    somebodyandkillthem,buttheyarenotallowedtouseanonlethalriot
    controlagent.
    Notheyarenotallowed.TheCWCoutlawsthehostileuseofchemistry,
    andinthecaseofnonlethalriotcontrolagents,forbidsstatesfromusing
    riotcontrolagentsasmeansofwarfare.
    Thelawsofarmedconflictarequiteclearthatweaponssystemsandthe
    soldierswhoemploythemmustdiscriminatebetweensoldiersandcivilians.
    Chemicalweaponscanttellthedifference,whichisonemajorreasonwhy
    they're illegal. A second reason was aptly demonstrated last October by
    Russian Special Forces at the Palace of Culture Theatre, who summarily
    executed50Chechenhostagetakers,afterthesedativegasputthemtosleep.
    UStroopsemployedteargasinVietnamtosimilareffect.
    ButDonaldRumsfeldwantstoremovethebanonchemicalweapons,
    thebettertopolicethePaxAmericana.[.]
    There are times when the use of nonlethal riot agents is perfectly
    appropriatewhentransportingdangerouspeopleinaconfinedspace,inan
    airplaneforexample,whenthereareenemytroopsinacaveinAfghanistan
    andyouknowtherearewomenandchildrenintherewiththem,andtheyare
    firingoutatyou,andyouhavethetaskofgettingatthem,andyoudpreferto
    getatthemwithoutalsogettingatwomenandchildren,andnoncombatants,
    saidRumsfeld,hesitatingseveraltimes.
    This deeplycynical statement obscures thereality thatit isprecisely
    noncombatantswhomaynotbetargetedbyweaponsunderinternationallaw.
    The Geneva Convention explicitly states that The presence within the

    39
    civilianpopulationofindividualswhodonotcomewithinthedefinitionof
    civiliansdoesnotdeprivethepopulationofitsciviliancharacter,thusthe
    civilian population may not be drugged against their will with an
    indiscriminatechemicalweapontoallowUStroopstosortthewheatfrom
    thechaffascontemplatedinUSmilitaryplanningpapers,andadmittedby
    DonaldRumsfeld.
    StephenKerr,ForthePresidentandPoisonGas:DonaldRumsfeldandPoison
    Gas,ZNet(February27,2003),http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?
    SectionID=15&ItemID=3148.

    (d)Theresponsibilitiesofoccupyingpowers
    TheIraqipeopleareprotectedbyasubstantialbodyoflaw
    First,theGenevaConventions,inparticularthe4th,whichdatesfrom
    1951 and has since been reinforced by multiple treaties: the Protocol
    regardingrefugeestatusin1967,theconclusionsoftheUNHighCommission
    onrefugees,aswellastheGuidelinesonInternalPopulationDisplacement
    approvedbytheAGoftheUNin1998;finally,theyarecoveredunderwhat
    isknownasthehumanitarianconventionsofinternationallaw.
    Whatdoesthisbodyoflawstate?Thatthelivesandpropertyofcivilians
    must be protected as far as possible. A measure of collateral damage is
    permissibleonlyinthecaseoflegitimatemilitaryaction.Butthatactionto
    authorise a measure of collateral damage must be legitimate. Is the
    intervention of the American and British military in Iraq legitimate? Kofi
    Annanisdoubtful(LeMonde,March13);agrowingchorusofworldlegal
    authorities have declared that intervention which defies the UN charter is
    totally illegal. In this case, civilian deaths are simply war crimes. In all
    likelihood,theUSwilloccupyIraq.Onthispoint,internationallawisvery
    clear:assoonastheUSbecomesanoccupyingpower,theybecomeatthe
    sametimeaccountableforthetotalityofinjuriessufferedbycivilians.Any
    failuretoprotectcivilianswouldbeaviolationofthe4thGenevaConvention.
    Article55ofthe4thConventionobligestheUS,iftheyoccupyIraq,toassure
    thecivilianpopulation'sneedforfood,butalsotoguaranteetheirfundamental
    rightstocare,education,freedomofmovementandsettlement.Whereverthe
    occupyingpowerfailstorespectorassurerespectfortheserights,itwillbe
    guiltyofaseriousviolationoftheGenevaConvention,andsuchaviolationis
    consideredawarcrime.
    As[early]asDecember2002,theUNPredictedaDevastatingHumanitarian
    crisis:23millionciviliansindanger
    HowdoestheUSplantofulfiltheirobligations?Andwhatarethose
    obligations,thatis,whatwillbethepopulation'sneeds?Withoutspeakingof

    40
    the direct effects of bombing by terrifying weaponsweapons of mass
    destructionwhichtheUSpossessesandmightyetusetheAmericanmilitary
    predictstheneartotaldestructionofIraqiinfrastructure.UNexpertspredict
    the destruction of communications centres (telephone), land and sea
    transportation, roads and ports, trucks and boats, the railways, all bridges
    (whichwillcutoffeastwestlinks),andallpowerplants.Oilproductionwill
    beparalysedortotallystopped.Drinkingwaterisproducedbyfiltrationplants
    which depend on pumping stations which in turn are dependent on the
    electrical network.Withoutelectricity, 10millionandinthelongterm18
    millionpeoplewillbedeprivedofdrinkingwater.Furthermore,fivemillion
    people depend on the sewage network. This system will cease to work.
    Consequences: epidemics of meningitis, measles, and panepidemics of
    choleraanddysentry.ThisscenarioisalreadycomingtrueinBassorah,where
    the2million civilians aredeprivedofdrinkingwaterandelectricitysince
    March22andepidemicsthreatenthelivesof100,000children.[.]Baghdad
    willsoonbeundersiege:fivemillioncivilianswillbehostages.TheCoalition
    isusinghungerasaweapon.ForBaghdadiswillhavenodrinkingwater,no
    lights, telephones, sanitation facilities; and what will they eat? [.] UN
    agenciesestimateemergencyneeds:waterandfoodfor5andahalfmillion
    Iraqisimmediately,10millionaftersixweeks,carefor2millionrefugeesand
    internally displaced people; medical supplies and chemical toilets for 5.5
    million people, medical supplies for 1000,000 wounded (though estimates
    reach500,000),tentsheltersforfor1.5million,reconstructionofbridgesand
    reorganisation of trucks. But these urgent needs are insignificant in
    comparisonwithwhatmustbedoneintheyearfollowinginvasion:foodand
    medicationfor23millionpeople,carefor2millionrefugees,therapeutic
    foodfor3millionpregnantandnursingwomenandchildrensufferingfrom
    malnutrition;waterfor18millionpeople,emergencyshelterfor3.5million
    people,careforsome60,000peoplenowininstitutionsandhospitals,mine
    clearingmaterials,materialstoreconstructbridges,allsortsofvehicles,and
    aboveall,hundredsofelectricalgenerators.
    SharingofFinancialandPenalResponsibilities
    Itisdifficulttoseehow[in]anapocalypticsituationsuchasisdescribed
    byUNagencies,therightsof23millionIraqiswillbeprotected,because[the
    protection of] their basic right to life is far from certain. The USA has
    marshalled3millionindividualrationsthatis,onedayoffoodfor3million
    peoplein terms of food aid, and ha[s] earmarked $52 million, whereas
    hundredsofmillionsofdollarswillberequired.Theydonothidethefactthat
    theyarecountingontherestoftheworldtopaythebill,althoughmostother
    countries have declared their opposition to destructiona questionable
    divisionofinternationallabour.[.]
    AppealsattemptingtodeclarethiswarillegalareunderwayinCanada
    andGreat Britain; othercountries couldfollowthesame example. Butno
    judicial action will happen in time to save civilian Iraqis. It is up to

    41
    governmentsopposedtowartoshowtheaggressorstheirresponsibilities.The
    states preparedtoprovokethiscatastrophewillbeguilty,butthosewhich
    allowthemtodoitarealsofromnowonandalreadyaccomplicestowar
    crimesagainstanentirepopulation.
    ChristineDelphy,InternationalLawandtheHumanitarianCrisisinIraq,ZNet
    (March27,2003),http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?
    SectionID=15&ItemID=3332.

    Forfurtherinformationonthisissue,seethefollowing:
    InternationalHumanitarianLawResearchInitiative,InternationalLaw:
    EnsuringhumanitarianaccessinIraq(April5,2003),
    http://electronicIraq.net/news/564.shtml.
    Mahajan,Rahul.TheNewHumanitarianism:BasraasaMilitaryTarget,
    ZNet(March28,2003),
    http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?
    SectionID=15&ItemID=3345.

    5.WeaponsofMassDestruction:DidIraqposeathreat
    topeaceandsecurity?
    ThissectioncontainsexcerptsfromtextsbywritersoftheAssociatedPress
    news agency, Hans Blix, Noam Chomsky, Mohamed Elbaradei, Richard Gwyn,
    RichardNortonTaylor,NikoPrice,ScottRitter(withWilliamRiversPitt),Hansvon
    Sponeck,andAndreasZumach.

    (a)TheevidenceofIraqsdisarmament
    OnSeptember24,2002,aU.K.MemberofParliament,GeorgeGalloway,
    contactedBritishjournalistspostedinBaghdadbytelephoneassoonastheBlair
    governmentsdossieronIraqspurportedweaponsofmassdestructioncapacitywas
    released.TheyimmediatelyaskedIraqigovernmentofficials totakethemtosites
    namedinthedossier.TheIraqiscooperatedpromptly,andthejournalistsconcluded
    fromtheirvisitstothesitesthattheclaimsmadeintheU.K.governmentdossierwere
    false.(ItcanbenotedthattheU.K.governmentdossierwaskeptsecretuntilthe
    momentofitsrelease;neitherIraqnoranyoneelseoutsidethecentralagenciesof
    theU.K.governmenthadadvancenoticeofitscontents.)

    42

    Source:InterviewofGeorgeGallowayMPonCBCRadioAsItHappens
    (September25,2002).

    Twosites,AlDoraontheoutskirtsofBaghdadandAlFallujahIII,were
    identifiedbytheU.S.government(AdecadeofDeceptionandDefiance,September
    12,2002)andbytheU.K.government(DossierreleasedonSeptember24,2002)as
    placeswherebiologicalweaponsofmassdestructionhavebeeninproductionsince
    thedepartureofUNweaponsinspectorsinDecember1998.Astudypublishedon
    September 9,2002bytheU.K.InternationalInstituteforStrategicStudies(IISS)
    makesthesameclaimsabouttheAlDorasite.
    Myvisittothesetwosites(accompaniedbytheARDGermanTV)showed
    conclusivelythatAlDoraandAlFallujahIIIfacilitieshadbeendestroyed.
    TheevidenceofferedbytheUSandUKadministrationaswellastheIISS
    assessmentofIraqsWMDstatusdoesnotsupportinanywaythecontention
    thatanimminentthreatemanatesfromIraqjustifyingamilitaryoffensive.
    The US governmentpromoted mass hysteria and the psycho war are
    internationallyunacceptable.
    HansvonSponeck,FourQuestions,FourAnswers(EuropeanColloquium,
    Brussels,September25,2002),http://www.afsc.org/iraq/guide/4questions.shtm.

    TheUnitedStatesmaintainsthatIraqposesathreattoitssecurity.This
    threat,itisargued,issoseriousthatapreemptivemilitarystrikeisrequired
    to protect the US and the wider global community. The UK shares this
    perception.
    Therestoftheworld,particularlyIraqsneighbours,donotagreewith
    thisassessment.[.]NoneoftheevidencetheUSandUKhaveproducedis
    accepted by the international community as hard core and unquestionable
    evidence that Iraq is in possession of or trying to produce ABC [i.e.
    atomic/biological/chemical]weaponsmaterials.
    Attemptstolinkactsofterrorisminvolvingthe1993and2001WTC,the
    US embassies in Nairobi and DarEssalaam, the USS Cole in Aden, the
    AnthraxcasesintheUSandcollaborationwithAlQaedatotheGovernment
    ofIraqhavefailed.
    HansvonSponeck,FourQuestions,FourAnswers(EuropeanColloquium,
    Brussels,September25,2002),http://www.afsc.org/iraq/guide/4questions.shtm.

    Ibelievetheprimaryproblematthispointisoneofaccounting.Iraqhas
    destroyed 9095% of its weapons of mass destruction. Okay. We have to

    43
    rememberthatthismissing510%doesntnecessarilyconstituteathreat.It
    doesn'tevenconstituteaweaponsprogram.Itconstitutesbitsandpiecesofa
    weaponsprogramwhichinitstotalitydoesntamounttomuch,butwhichis
    stillprohibited.Likewise,justbecausewecantaccountforitdoesntmean
    Iraq retains it. Theres no evidence Iraq retains this material. Thats the
    quandarywerein.WecantgiveIraqacleanbillofhealth,thereforewecant
    closethebookontheirweaponsofmassdestruction.Butsimultaneouslywe
    cantreasonablytalkaboutIraqinoncomplianceasrepresentingadefacto
    retentionofaprohibitedcapabilityworthyofwar.
    Howdowedealwiththisuncertainty?Therearethosewhosaythat
    becausetherearenoweaponsinspectorsinIraqtoday[i.e.August,2002],
    becauseIraqhasshownaproclivitytoacquiretheseweaponsinthepastand
    usetheseweaponsagainsttheirneighborsandtheirownpeople,andbecause
    Iraqhasliedtoweaponsinspectorsinthepast,wehavetoassumetheworst.
    Underthisrubric,apreemptivestrikeisjustified.
    Ifthiswerearguedinacourtoflaw,theweightofevidencewouldgo
    theotherway.Iraqhas,infact,demonstratedoverandoverawillingnessto
    cooperate with weapons inspectors. Mitigating circumstances surround the
    demise of inspections and the inconclusive or incomplete nature of the
    mission, by which I mean Iraqs failure to be certified as fully disarmed.
    Thoseseekingtoimplementtheseresolutionsforexample,theUnitedStates
    actuallyviolatedthetermsoftheresolutionsbyusingtheiruniqueaccessto
    operate inside Iraq in a manner incompatible with Security Council
    resolutions,forexample,byspyingonIraq.
    WilliamRiversPitt,withScottRitter,WaronIraq:WhatTeamBushDoesn'tWant
    YoutoKnow(NewYork:ContextBooks,2002),"AnInterviewwithScottRitter,"
    pp.2930.

    How should the problem of the existence and use of weapons of mass
    destructionintheworldtodaybedealtwith?
    They should be eliminated. The nonproliferation treaty commits
    countrieswithnuclearweaponstotakestepstowardseliminatingthem.The
    biological and chemical weapons treaties have the same goals. The main
    SecurityCouncilresolutionconcerningIraq(687[1991])callsforeliminating
    weaponsofmassdestructionanddeliverysystemsfromtheMiddleEast,and
    workingtowardsaglobalbanonchemicalweapons.Goodadvice.
    Iraqisnowhereneartheleadinthisregard.Wemightrecallthewarning
    ofGeneralLeeButler,headofClintonsStrategicCommandintheearly90s,
    thatitisdangerousintheextremethatinthecauldronofanimositiesthatwe
    calltheMiddleEast,onenationhasarmeditself,ostensibly,withstockpilesof
    nuclearweapons,perhapsnumberinginthehundreds,andthatinspiresother
    nationstodoso.HestalkingaboutIsrael,ofcourse.TheIsraelimilitary
    authorities claim to have air and armored forces that are larger and more

    44
    advanced than those of any European NATO power (Yitzhak ben Israel,
    Haaretz,41602,Hebrew).Theyalsoannouncethat12%oftheirbombers
    andfighteraircraftarepermanentlystationedinEasternTurkey,alongwith
    comparablenavalandsubmarineforcesinTurkishbases,andarmoredforces
    aswell[...].BynowIsraelisvirtuallyanoffshoreUSmilitarybase.
    NoamChomskyandMichaelAlbert,InterviewwithNoamChomskyaboutUS
    Warplans,ZNet(August29,2002),http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?
    SectionID=15&ItemID=2422.

    BlairsdefenceofhispolicytowardsSaddamHusseinandUNweapons
    inspectorsseemsincreasinglyincoherent.Inhispressconferencelastweekhe
    carefullylinkedthethreatofterrorismwiththeneedtodisarmIraq.Therewas
    adangerofweaponsfallingintothehandsofterrorists.HedescribedIraqas
    thefocalpointoftheproblem.
    Yet under questioning by MPs on Tuesday, Blair admitted that no
    evidencehadbeenfoundofanylinksbetweenalQaidaandSaddamHussein,
    somethinghisintelligenceagencieshaverepeatedlytoldhim.YettheBush
    administration, encouraged by the the Israeli government, continues to
    promotetheliethatsuchalinkexists.[.]
    Any threat posed by Iraq was put into perspective this week by the
    formerDemocratsenator,SamNunn.HewasinLondontolaunchareporton
    nuclear,chemicalandbiologicalweaponsby13respectedthinktanksledby
    the Washingtonbased Centre for Strategic and International Studies. The
    dangerwasnotsomuchthatastatewouldsupplyterroristgroupswiththese
    weapons.Terrorists,Nunnwarned,aremorelikelytostealthemorbuythem
    ontheopenmarket.
    RichardNortonTaylor,Ablindnessthatputsusallindanger,TheGuardian
    (January23,2003),
    http://www.guardian.co.uk/terrorism/story/0,12780,880374,00.html.

    Important assessments of the question of Iraqs supposed possession of


    chemical,biologicalor(potentially)nuclearweaponsincludethefollowing:

    Blix,Hans.StatementbyHansBlixtotheUNSecurityCouncil,The
    Guardian(January27,2003),
    http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/iraq/unmovic/2003/0127
    entblixrep.htm.
    ,StatementbyHansBlixtotheUNSecurityCouncil(February14,
    2003),http://www.un.org/Depts/unmovic/blix14Febasdel.htm.
    ,StatementbyHansBlixtotheUNSecurityCouncil(March7,
    2003),http://www.un.org/Depts/unmovic/SC7asdelivered.htm.

    45
    Elbaradei,Mohamed.StatementofMohamedElbaradeitotheUN
    SecurityCouncil(March7,2003),
    http://www.iaea.org/worldatom/Press/Statements/2003/ebsp2003n00
    6.shtml.
    Khadduri,Imad.Iraqsnuclearnoncapability,YellowTimes(November
    21,2002),http://www.yellowtimes.org/article.php?sid=874.
    Pitt,WilliamRivers,withScottRitter. WaronIraq:WhatTeamBush
    Doesn'tWantYoutoKnow.NewYork:ContextBooks,2002.
    Rangwala,Glen.ClaimsandevaluationsofIraqsproscribedweapons,
    http://www.traprockpeace.org/iraqweapons.html.
    Hans Blix is Executive Chairman of the current UN weapons inspection team
    (UNMOVIC)inIraq;MohamedElbaradeiisDirectorGeneraloftheInternational
    AtomicEnergyAgency.ScottRitterwasamemberoftheUNweaponsinspection
    teamthatwaswithdrawnatU.S.instigationin1998.ImadKhadduri,whonowlives
    inToronto,workedwiththeIraqiAtomicEnergyCommissionfrom1968until1998.
    Dr.KhaddurisstatementthatIraqsnuclearweaponsprogramwasabandonedafter
    the1991GulfWarissupportedbyScottRittersaccountoftheUNSCOMinspections
    whichendedin1998andbyDr.Elbaradei'sconclusionsregardingthecurrentIAEA
    inspectionsinIraq.
    Dr.GlenRangwalaisanindependentanalyst,alecturerinpoliticsatthe
    University of Cambridge. His assessment of the evidence is the most thorough
    available,andisregularlyupdated.Hehasanalyzedinscrupulousdetailallofthe
    claims relating to Iraqi nuclear, chemical and biological warfare capacities and
    deliverysystemsmadebytheU.S.andU.K.governments.Withonesingleexception
    theimportationofrocketengines,forbiddenunderthesanctions,butconfessedto
    inIraqsDecember2002weaponsdeclarationtotheSecurityCouncilhefindsthe
    claimsoftheAmericanandBritishgovernmentstobeunsupportedbytheavailable
    evidence. See Glen Rangwala, Claims and evaluations of Iraq's proscribed
    weapons,http://www.traprockpeace.org/iraqweapons.html.
    WhenIleftIraqin1998,whentheUNinspectionprogramended,the
    [nuclear weapons program] infrastructure and facilities had been 100%
    eliminated.Theresnodebateaboutthat.Alloftheirinstrumentsandfacilities
    hadbeendestroyed.Theweaponsdesignfacilitieshadbeendestroyed.The
    productionequipmenthadbeenhunteddownanddestroyed.Andwehadin
    placemeanstomonitorbothfromvehiclesandfromtheairthegamma
    rays that accompany attempts to enrich uranium or plutonium. We never
    foundanything.Wecansayunequivocallythattheindustrialinfrastructure
    neededbyIraqtoproducenuclearweaponshadbeeneliminated.
    WilliamRiversPitt,withScottRitter,WaronIraq:WhatTeamBushDoesn'tWant
    YoutoKnow(NewYork:ContextBooks,2002),AnInterviewwithScottRitter,
    pp.3031.

    46

    *Thereisnoindicationofresumednuclearactivitiesinthosebuildingsthat
    wereidentifiedthroughtheuseofsatelliteimageryasbeingreconstuctedor
    newly erected since 1998, nor any indication of nuclearrelated prohibited
    activitiesatanyinspectedsites.
    *ThereisnoindicationthatIraqhasattemptedtoimporturaniumsince1990.
    *ThereisnoindicationthatIraqhasattemptedtoimportaluminiumtubesfor
    useincentrifugeenrichment.Moreover,evenifIraqhadpursuedsuchaplan,
    itwouldhaveencounteredpracticaldifficultiesinmanufacturingcentrifuges
    outofthealuminiumtubesinquestion.
    * Although we are still reviewing issues related to magnets and magnet
    production,thereisnoindicationtodatethatIraqhasimportedmagnetsfor
    useinacentrifugeenrichmentprogramme.
    MohamedElbaradei,StatementofMohamedElbaradeitotheUNSecurityCouncil
    (March7,2003):TheStatusofNuclearInspectionsinIraq:AnUpdate,
    http://www.iaea.org/worldatom/Press/Statements/2003/ebsp2003n006.shtml.

    In his March 7, 2003 report to the UN Security Council, UNMOVIC


    ExecutiveChairmanDr.HansBlixnotedthatU.S.claimsthatIraqpossessesmobile
    biologicalweaponslaboratoriesandmovesweaponsofmassdestructionaroundthe
    country in trucks appear to be incorrect. (Food testing mobile laboratories and
    mobileworkshopshavebeenseen,aswellaslargecontainerswithseedprocessing
    equipment. No evidence of proscribed activities have [sic] so far been found.)
    Claims that weapons of mass destruction are being manufactured or concealed
    underground are likewise unsupported by the evidence. (During inspections of
    declaredorundeclaredfacilities,inspectionteamshaveexaminedbuildingstructures
    for any possible underground facilities. In addition, ground penetrating radar
    equipment was used in several specific locations. No underground facilities for
    chemicalorbiologicalproductionorstoragewerefoundsofar.)Blixalsoremarked,
    withrespecttotheongoingdestructionoftheshortrangeAlSamoud2missiles,that
    Wearenotwatchingthebreakingoftoothpicks(StatementbyHansBlixtothe
    UNSecurityCouncil[March7,2003],
    http://www.un.org/Depts/unmovic/SC7asdelivered.htm).
    Grasping at straws, Colin Powell and other U.S. officials claimed in the
    monthspriortotheinvasionofIraqthatIraqpossesseddroneaircraftcapableof
    attackingtheUnitedStateswithchemicalandbiologicalweapons.Butonceagain,
    theevidenceproveddisappointing.
    A remotely piloted aircraft that the United States has warned could
    spreadchemicalweaponsappearstobemadeofbalsawoodandducttape,

    47
    withtwosmallpropellersattachedtowhatlookliketheenginesofaweed
    whacker.
    IraqiofficialstookjournaliststotheIbnFirnasStateCompanyjustnorth
    of Baghdad yesterday, where the drones project director accused Colin
    Powell,theU.S.SecretaryofState,ofmisleadingtheUNSecurityCouncil
    andthepublic.
    Hesmakingabigmistake,saidBrigadierGeneralImadAbdulLatif.
    Heknowsverywellthatthisaircraftisnotusedforwhathesaid.
    InWashingtonssearchforasmokinggunthatwouldproveIraqisnot
    disarming,Mr.Powellhasinsistedthedrone,whichhasawingspanof7.5
    metres,couldbefittedtodispensechemicalandbiologicalweapons.Hehas
    saiditshouldbeofconcerntoeverybody.[.]
    Brig.Gen.Latifsaidtheplaneiscontrolledbythenakedeyefromthe
    ground.Askedwhetheritsrangeisabovethe150kilometrelimitimposedby
    theUN,hesaiditcouldntbecontrolledfrommorethan11kilometres.Brig.
    Gen.Latifsaidtheexactrangewillbedeterminedwhenthedronepassesto
    thenexttestingstage.
    Ibn Firnas general director, General Ibrahim Hussein, disputed
    assertionsbyMr.PowellandAriFleischer,theWhiteHousePressSecretary,
    thatthedronewascapableofdispensingbiologicalandchemicalweapons.
    This RPV is to be used for reconnaissance, jamming and aerial
    photography,hesaid.Wehaveneverthoughtofanyotheruse.
    NikoPrice,Iraqsaysducttapeddronewasneverhidden,NationalPost(March
    13,2003):A15.

    Theabsenceofevidenceisnotevidenceofabsence.
    (U.S.DefenceSecretaryDonaldRumsfeld.)
    Itstroubling[]thatIraqisbeingrequiredtoproveanegative;namely
    that it does not have weapons of mass destruction. This is a logical
    impossibility. Onlyafteraninvasioncantherebeabsolute certainty about
    whatactuallyexists,ordoesnt,inthecountry.Atthattime,ifnothingwere
    found,theAmericanscouldsay,andnodoubtwould,thattheweaponsdid
    onceexistbuthadbeenspiritedawaytoAlQaedaterrorists.
    RichardGwyn,ClockstartstickingonIraq,TorontoStar(Dec.22,2002),A21.

    (b)ThesourcesofIraqspre1991WMDprograms
    GlenRangwalanotesthatsomeoftherelevantevidenceaboutIraq'sweapons
    ofmassdestructionhasnotbeenmadepublic.ItwasinfactsuppressedbytheU.S.
    governmentwhoseUNdelegationappropriatedthe12,000pagereportwhichwas

    48
    submittedtotheSecurityCouncilbyIraqinDecember2002.TheU.S.subsequently
    suppliedtoothermembersoftheCouncilacensoredtextonly3,000pagesinlength.
    Thereasonforthisbizarreactofconcealmentisnotfartoseek.Accordingtoreports
    byAndreasZumachintheBerlinnewspaperDieTageszeitungonDecember17and
    18, 2002, the full report contains embarrassingly detailed information about the
    complicity of western corporations and governmentsamong them 80 German
    corporations,24Americancorporations,andtheReaganandBushIgovernments
    inIraqsnuclear,chemicalandbiologicalwarfareprogramsduringthe1980s.It
    appearsthattheU.S.governmentcontemplatedusingunreleasedinformationabout
    GermancomplicityasameansofblackmailingGermany(whichjoinedtheSecurity
    CouncilasarotatingmemberatthebeginningofJanuary2003)intocompliance
    withtheUSattackonIraq.
    A longterm highranking member of the government in Baghdad
    (whosenameisknowntoDieTageszeitung)hassignalledhisreadinesstothe
    BushadministrationtodelivermorespecificinformationregardingGerman
    arms cooperation with Iraq, in return for assurances of protection after a
    potentialregimechange.Accordingtosources,theBushadministrationmight
    wanttousethisinformationtoensurethatGermany[]complieswiththe
    U.S.positionintheSecurityCouncil.
    AndreasZumach,DieTageszeitung(December17,2002),translationfrom
    http://www.democracynow.org/Zumach2.htm.TheGermantextofZumachs
    articlesonIraqsweaponsreporttotheSecurityCouncilisavailableat
    http://www.taz.de.(SeealsoBeaumont,Rose,andBeaver,UStopunishGerman
    'treachery',TheObserver[February17,2003],
    http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=15&ItemID=3060.)

    Duringthe1980s,whentheUnitedStatessupportedIraqinits198088war
    againstIran,theU.S.suppliedSaddamHussein'sregimewithbiologicalweapons
    agents.AccordingtoanAssociatedPressreportofOctober1,2002,theU.S.Centers
    forDiseaseControlandPreventionandabiologicalsamplecompany,theAmerican
    TypeCultureCollection,sentstrainsofallthegermsIraqusedtomakeweapons,
    includinganthrax,thebacteriathatmakebotulinintoxinandthegermsthatcausegas
    gangrene.SeeU.S.gavegermstoIraq, AssociatedPress (October1,2002),
    http://www.timesdispatch.com/news/more/MGBPGP77R6D.html.
    Forfurtherevidenceofthecomplicityofcorporationsandgovernmentsin
    Germany,theU.S.,BritainandothercountriesinsupplyingtheIraqigovernment
    withweaponsofmassdestructiontechnologyduringthe1980s,andinproviding
    diplomaticcoverforIraqwhentheregimeusedchemicalweaponsagainstitsown
    Kurdishpopulationin1987and1988,seethefollowingarticles:
    Gendzier,Irene.DyingtoForget:TheUSandIraqsWeaponsofMass
    Destruction,LogosOnline(March14,2003),

    49
    http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?
    SectionID=15&ItemID=3233.
    Hiltermann,JoostR.AmericaDidntSeemtoMindPoisonGas,
    InternationalHeraldTribune(January17,2003),
    http://www.commondreams.org/views03/011701.htm.
    Mackay,NeilMackay.Iraq'sArmsRevealed:17Britishfirmsarmed
    Saddamwithhisweapons,SundayHerald(February25,2003),
    http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?
    SectionID=40&ItemID=3124.

    (c)U.S.useofweaponsofmassdestruction
    TheUnitedStatescanhardlyclaimtooccupythemoralhighgroundwhenit
    comes to the question of weapons of mass destruction. The U.S. has repeatedly
    threatenedtousenuclearweaponsagainstnonnuclearpowers,amongthemNorth
    Korea.(FordocumentationofthelatterthreatsseeNoamChomsky, Understanding
    Power:TheIndispensableChomsky,eds.PeterR.MitchellandJohnSchoeffel(New
    York: The New Press, 2002), p. 302 n. 62, available at
    http://www.understandingpower.com.) On several occasions between August 1990
    andFebruary1991,theU.S.andBritainthreatenedtousenuclearweaponsagainst
    IraqathreatrenewedbyBritishDefenceSecretaryGeoffHooninMarch2002;see
    MilanRai,WarPlanIraq:TenReasonsAgainstWaronIraq(LondonandNewYork:
    Verso,2002),pp.188,185.
    TheresearchworkoftwoCanadianhistorians,StephenEndicottandEdward
    Hagerman,appearstohaveconfirmedthattheU.S.deployedbiologicalweapons
    duringtheKoreanWar,bombingpartsofNorthKoreaandChinawithanthrax,
    encephalitis and other diseases in early 1952. See Faiz Rady, 'Beyond a
    reasonable doubt, AlAhram Weekly (April 612, 2000, Issue No. 476),
    http://www.ahram.org.eg/weekly/2000/476/in1.htm.Thereisalsostrongevidenceof
    U.S.useofthenervegassarinduringtheVietnamWar:seeBarryGrey,Whydid
    CNNretractitsnervegasreport?Acloserlook,WorldSocialistWebSite(July16,
    1998),http://www.wsws.org/news/1998/july1998/cnnj16.shtml.
    AmuchmoredamaginguseofchemicalagentsduringtheU.S.invasionof
    Vietnamisofcoursewellknown,thoughnotcommonlyrecognizedasaninstanceof
    chemicalwarfare.TheUnitedStatesforcessprayedAgentOrangerepeatedlyover
    widetracksofSouthVietnambetweenthemid1960sand1973:thoughcategorized
    asadefoliant,thissubstancewashighlytoxictohumansandanimalsaswellasto
    plants.InMay,2002NoamChomskycommentedwithcharacteristicironyonsome
    recentnoncoverageofthesubjectintheU.S.media.

    50
    Justacoupleofweeksago,therewasafrontpagestoryinallthepapers.
    Somescientistshaddiscoveredthatitwouldbepossibletoconstructwhatare
    calleddirtybombsbombsthatwouldhavealotofradiationbutnotmuch
    destructive impactand to put them in New York somewhere. They
    calculatedtheeffectsandtheysaidtherewouldn'tbemanydeaths,justasmall
    number,butmaybealotofdisease,anditwouldcertainlycausepanic.Soit's
    ahorriblestory,frontpagenews.
    Thesameday,therewasaconferenceinHanoi,inwhichleadingU.S.
    scientistsparticipated,peoplewhohadworkedondioxin,themainpoisonous
    ingredientinAgentOrange.Theconferencewasconcernedwiththeeffectsof
    U.S.chemicalwarfareonSouthVietnam,onlySouthVietnam.TheNorthwas
    sparedthisterror.AndanAmericanscientistattheconferencetesteddioxin
    levelsinvariouspartsofthecountry.
    Ofcourse,thosewhohadbeensubjectedtocropdestructionandother
    usesofAgentOrangehadveryhighlevels,infacthundredsoftimesashigh
    aspermissibleintheUnitedStates.Andtherearealsorecentcases.Manyof
    themarejustfromthelastfewyears,children.Andtheytriedtocalculatethe
    effects,whichwouldbecolossal,probablyhundredsofthousandsofvictims.
    Thatnewswashardlyevenmentionedinthe[U.S.]press.
    Ihadafrienddoadatabasesearch.Therewereacoupleofmentions
    hereandthere.Sohere,areportonouruseofchemicalweapons,whichmay
    havekilledmaybehundredsofthousandsofpeople:notamention.Areport
    thatmaybeitmightbepossibletodosomethinginNewYorkthatmightkilla
    fewpeople:frontpagenews.
    Thats the difference. Thats the difference in who counts and who
    doesn'tcount.
    NoamChomsky,PowerandTerror:Post9/11TalksandInterviews(NewYork:
    SevenStoriesPress,Tokyo:LittleMore,2003),pp.2728.

    In an important article, Stephen Kerr documents the evidence that large


    numbers of U.S. soldiers in Iraq were exposed to sarin gas and other chemical
    weaponsonMarch4,1991,whentheU.S.ArmyidioticallydemolishedtheIraqi
    chemicalweaponsdepotatKamisiyahbyblowingitupintheopenair.Inthesame
    article, Kerr also provides useful information about the U.S.s own stocks of
    chemical weapons. See Stephen Kerr, Where's the VX? (January 24, 2003),
    http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=40&ItemID=2909.
    ElsewhereKerrhasquotedatlengthfromDonaldRumsfeldstestimonytothe
    House Armed Services Committee on February 5, 2003testimony which makes
    clearRumsfeldsintention,indefianceoftheGenevaConventionandtheChemical
    WeaponsConvention,tousechemicalweaponsagainstthecivilianpopulationof
    Baghdad.Seesection4(c)aboveforanexcerptfromStephenKerrsarticleForthe
    PresidentandPoisonGas:DonaldRumsfeldandPoisonGas(February27,2003),
    http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=15&ItemID=3148.

    51

    6.DecodingU.S.andU.K.Propaganda
    Thissectioncontainsexcerptsfromtextswritten(or,inonecase,spoken)by
    Prashant Bhushan, Tony Blair, George W. Bush, Sandro Contenta, George
    Galloway, Seymour Hersh, Media Lens, Maggie OKane, Scott Peterson, John
    Pilger,DanaPriest,MilanRai,andGlenRangwala.

    (a)KeystatementsoftheU.S.andU.K.position
    ImportantrecentpolicystatementsandclaimsoffactbytheU.S.andU.K.
    governmentsincludethefollowing,listedintheorderoftheirpublication.(Thefirst
    nineofthesetextsareavailableathttp://traprockpeace.org/iraqweapons.html.)
    U.S.StateDepartment.ADecadeofDeceptionandDefiance.
    (September12,2002;backgroundpapertoPresidentGeorgeW.
    BushsspeechtotheUNGeneralAssembly.)
    U.K.JointIntelligenceCommittee(JIC).IraqsWeaponsofMass
    Destruction:TheAssessmentoftheBritishGovernment.
    (September24,2002).
    GeorgeW.Bush.SpeechatCincinnatiMuseumCenter,Cincinnati,
    Ohio.(October7,2002.)
    U.S.DefenseDepartment.IraqiDenialandDeceptionforWeaponsof
    MassDestructionandBallisticMissilePrograms.(October8,
    2002.)
    U.S.CentralIntelligenceAgency(CIA).IraqsWeaponsofMass
    DestructionPrograms.(October,2002.)
    U.S.StateDepartment.FactSheet:IllustrativeExamplesofOmissions
    fromtheIraqiDeclarationtotheUnitedNationsSecurityCouncil.
    (December19,2002.)
    U.S.WhiteHouse,WhatDoesDisarmamentLookLike?(January23,
    2003).
    ColinPowell.RemarksattheWorldEconomicForum.(Davos,
    Switzerland,January26,2003.)
    GeorgeW.Bush.StateoftheUnionAddress.(January28,2003.)
    Iraqitsinfrastructureofconcealment,deceptionandintimidation.10
    DowningStreetFacts(U.K.GovernmentDossier,January30,2003),
    http://www.number10.gov.uk/output/Page7111.asp.

    52
    ColinPowell.Remarks:SecretaryofStateColinL.PowelltotheUnited
    NationsSecurityCouncil.(February5,2003),
    http://www.un.int/usa/03clp0205.htm.
    JulianBorger.StrawthreattobypassUNoverattackonIraq.The
    Guardian(October19,2002),
    http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,815190,00.html.
    TonyBlair.Thepriceofmyconviction.TheObserver(February16,
    2003):20.

    (b)ResponsestoBushandPowell
    AmongthemanyrecentresponsestotheclaimsadvancedbyGeorgeW.Bush
    andColinPowell,thefollowing(listedaccordingtothedateoftheirpublication)are
    noteworthy:
    NormanSolomonandReeseErlich.TargetIraq:WhattheNewsMedia
    Didn'tTellYou.NewYork:ContextBooks,2003.AppendixTwo:
    DetailedAnalysisofOctober7,2002SpeechbyBushonIraq
    (CompiledbytheInstituteforPublicAccuracyonOctober8,2002),
    pp.12554.
    PhyllisBennis.PowellsDubiousCase,ZNet(February5,2003),
    http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?
    SectionID=40&ItemID=2976.
    RobertJensen.SmokingGunsandBigGuns:TheUSDrivetoWar,
    ZNet(February5,2003),
    http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?
    SectionID=15&ItemID=2970.
    RobertFisk.PowellPresentation:ItwaslikesomethingoutofBeckett,
    TheIndependent(February6,2003),
    http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?
    SectionID=40&ItemID=2977.
    StephenJamesKerr.TheModifiedVehiclesPowellForgotto
    Mention,ZNet(February6,2003),
    http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?
    SectionID=15&ItemID=2986.
    DannySchechter.PowellDoctrineorDoctrinaire?ZNet(February6,
    2003),http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?
    SectionID=21&ItemID=2981.
    ScottRitter.DismissingPowell:StoryonScottRittersReaction,
    KyodoNews(February7,2003),
    http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?
    SectionID=40&ItemID=2997.

    53
    NormonSolomon.ColinPowellisFlawlessInsideaMediaBubble,
    ZNet(February7,2003),
    http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?
    SectionID=21&ItemID=2993.
    RahulMahajan.RespondingtoColinPowell,ZNet(February8,2003),
    http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?
    SectionID=40&ItemID=2980
    MariaTomchick.PowellsFlimsyEvidence,ZNet(February9,2003),
    http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?
    SectionID=15&ItemID=3009.
    MarkWeisbrot.WarGames:OldEuropeConfrontsWashingtonon
    Iraq,ZNet(February11,2003),
    http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?
    SectionID=15&ItemID=3023.
    MahirAli.BlessedArethePeacemakers,Dawn[Karachi](February12,
    2003),http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?
    SectionID=15&ItemID=3026.
    DennisHans.LyingUsIntoWar:ExposingBushandHisTechniquesof
    Deceit,ScoopMedia(February12,2003),
    http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?
    SectionID=15&ItemID=3024.
    JoeySlinger.Withfriendslikethis,doweneedotherreasons,Toronto
    Star(February15,2003):A2,http://www.thestar.com.
    MicheleLandsberg.U.Sliesshouldntbeleadingusintobattleagain,
    TorontoStar(February16,2003):A2,http://www.thestar.com.
    HaroonSiddiqui.CaseforwarerodedbyabsurdU.S.arguments,
    TorontoStar(February16,2003):B1,http://www.thestar.com.
    RobertByrd.Westandpassivelymute,TheGuardian(February18,
    2003):17.
    HansBlix.StatementbyHansBlixtotheUNSecurityCouncil(March7,
    20034),http://www.un.org/Depts/unmovic/SC7asdelivered.htm.
    MohamedElbaradei.StatementbyMohamedElbaradeitotheUN
    SecurityCouncil(March7,2003),
    http://www.iaea.org/worldatom/Press/Statements/2003/ebsp2003n00
    6.shml.
    NikoPrice.Iraqsaysducttapeddronewasneverhidden,NationalPost
    (March13,2003):A15.
    WhiteHouseClaims:APatternofDeceit,InstituteforPublicAccuracy
    (March18,2003),
    http://www.accuracy.org/press_releases/PR031803.htm.
    WalterPincusandDanaMilbank.BushClingstoDubiousAllegations
    AboutIraq,TheWashingtonPost(March18,2003):A13,
    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/articles/A42517
    2003Mar17.html.

    54
    SeymourM.Hersh.WhoLiedtoWhom?WhydidtheAdministration
    endorseaforgeryaboutIraq'snuclearprogram?TheNewYorker
    (March31,2003),http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/?
    030331fa_fact.
    Inarecentarticle,PrashantBhushanturnsGeorgeW.Bushsrepeated
    comparisonsofSaddamHusseintoAdolfHitleragainstBushhimself.
    While selling his attack on Iraq, Bush often draws an analogy with
    Hitler'sGermany.HelikensthethreatposedtotheworldbySaddamtodayto
    thethreatposedbyHitlerinthemid30s.[.]Whiletheanalogybetween
    SaddamandHitlermaybelaughable,itisinstructive,thoughfrightening,to
    drawananalogybetweenBushandHitlerandthethreatsposedbythemto
    othernationsandtoworldpeace.
    [.] Compared to the military arsenal of the US today, Germanys
    underHitlerwasnothing.ThelackofrespectoftheUSforinternationallaw
    isevidentnotonlyinthenumberofoccasionsthatithasengagedinunilateral
    overtmilitaryaggression[]duringthelastfiftyyears[],butalsofromthe
    number of occasions that it has vetoed [otherwise] unanimous Security
    Council resolutions which were passed to make Israel comply with
    internationallaw.[.]AnydoubtwhatsoeveraboutthewillingnessofBush
    totrampleuponallnormsofinternationallawshouldhavebeendispelledby
    themannerinwhichBushhasbeenproclaiminghiscontemptfortheUnited
    Nations.[.]
    ItisobviousbynowthattherealobjectiveoftheattackonIraqisnotto
    stopSaddamfromacquiringandusingweaponsofmassdestruction[].The
    realobjectiveshavetodowithsecuringandcontrollingIraq'soil[],and
    indeed to acquire strategic control of the entire Middle East. From the
    belligerence andarroganceexhibited byBushandhistopadvisers[],it
    appearsthattheobjectiveisalsotogeneratefearamongothercountriesthat
    theUSwouldbewillingtouseitsmilitarymightagainstnationswhichcross
    itspath.The[openthreattousethe]recentlytestedsubnuclearmotherofall
    bombs(MOAB)[],alongwithnucleartippeddeeppenetrationmissiles,
    againstIraq,isnotjustdesignedtoscareIraqintosubmission,butalsotoput
    othercountriesonnoticethattheUSwillnothesitatetouseweaponsofmass
    genocideagainstcountrieswhichdonottoeitsline.[.]
    ButitmaybeobjectedthatitwouldbeunfairtocompareBushwith
    Hitler,sinceBushleadsademocraticcountrywhileHitlerhadestablisheda
    dictatorship. But even Hitler had come to power through a democratic
    election. It was only thereafter, that he used the Reichstag fire and the
    demonizingoftheJewstogeneratemasshysteriaandacquireabsolutepower.
    HasntBushalsousedtheeventsofSeptember11tocarefullyorchestratehis
    war on terror to generate the same kind of hysteria? He has used that

    55
    hysteriatogettheCongresstoabdicateandcedemanyofitspowerstohim,
    particularlytheallimportantpowerofpermittingattackonothercountries
    underthecoverofthiswaronterror.Hehasevengotseveraldraconianlaws
    passed,includingtheinfamousPatriotAct,whichisbeingusedtoerodecivil
    libertiesandgraduallytaketheUSonthepathofaPoliceState.[.]
    [By]everyobjectivestandard,Bushtodayposesamuchgreaterthreatto
    worldpeaceandthosecountrieswhichdonottoehisline,thanHitlereverdid.
    His military arsenal is far bigger and more lethal than any arsenal ever
    assembled in history. He has displayed an open contempt for the United
    Nations and international law and an easy willingness to use unilateral
    military force to even commit mass genocide by using weapons of mass
    destructiontoachievehisends.Hehasskilfullygeneratedmasshysteriainthe
    country to increase his own power by whittling down the power of the
    Congress,anderodingcivilliberties.Hispersonalcommercialinterestsand
    thoseofhismenarecloselytiedtooilandwarandhehasdemonstratedthat
    hewilltrampleuponallinternationalnormsinthepursuitofthoseinterests.
    PrashantBhushan,BushMustBeStoppedNowBeforeItIsTooLate,ZNet
    (March17,2003),http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?
    SectionID=40&ItemID=3254.

    (c)ResponsestoBlair
    TheclaimsadvancedbyTonyBlairhavebeennolessthoroughlyrefutedand
    exposedtoridicule:
    AlanSimpsonandGlenRangwala.LabourAgainsttheWarsCounter
    Dossier(September17,2002),
    http://www.labouragainstthewar.org.uk/link5.html.
    RobertFisk.Thedishonestyofthissocalleddossier,TheIndependent
    (September25,2002),
    http://argument.independent.co.uk/commentators/story.jsp?
    story=336404.
    MediaLensAlert:BitterIroniesofPropaganda.MediaLens(January
    14,2003),
    http://www.medialens.org/alerts/030114_Bitter_Ironies.html.
    DavidEdwards.BlairsBetrayal:PartI(TheNewsnightDebate:
    DismantlingtheCaseforWar),MediaLens(February10,2003),
    http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?
    SectionID=15&ItemID=3012.
    DavidEdwards.BlairsBetrayal:Part2(TheNewsnightDebate:
    DismantlingtheCaseforWar),MediaLens(February11,2003),

    56
    http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?
    SectionID=15&ItemID=3020.
    ConorGearty.HowdidBlairgethere?ConorGeartyonthefollyofthe
    impendingwar,LondonReviewofBooks,vol.25,no.4(February
    20,2003):78.
    JohnPilger.Blair'sLies,DailyMirror(March14,2003),
    http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?
    SectionID=15&ItemID=3235.
    OnepassageinBlairsThepriceofmyconvictionspeechdeservesspecial
    emphasis.Blairattemptstorefutethemoralcaseagainstwarbysettingoutthe
    moralcaseforremovingSaddaminthefollowingmanner.
    []themoralcaseagainstwarhasamoralanswer:itisthemoralcase
    forremovingSaddam.Itisnotthereasonweact.Thatmustbeaccordingto
    theUNmandateonweaponsofmassdestruction.Butitisthereason,frankly,
    whyifwedohavetoact,weshoulddosowithaclearconscience.
    Yes,thereareconsequences ofwar.IfweremoveSaddambyforce,
    people will die, and some will be innocent. And we must live with the
    consequencesofouractions,eventheunintendedones.
    But there are also consequences of stop the war. There will be no
    marchforthevictimsofSaddam,noprotestsaboutthethousandsofchildren
    that die needlessly every year under his rule, no righteous anger over the
    torturechamberswhichifheisleftinpower,willremaininbeing.
    TonyBlair,Thepriceofmyconviction,TheObserver(February16,2003):20.

    BlairidentifiestwocategoriesofvictimsoftheIraqityrant.Thereisindeedreason
    forconcernabouttortureandsummaryexecutionsunderSaddamHusseinsbrutal
    dictatorship. (It is worth adding that such concern does not legitimize a war of
    aggressionand worth noting that the U.S. and U.K. governments expressed no
    concernaboutIraqitortureduringthe1980swhenSaddamwastheirdefactoally.)
    ButforBlairtoadvancethedeathsofIraqichildrenasajustificationforwarwhen
    these deaths have been and continue to be caused by the genocidal regime of
    sanctionsforwhichtheU.S.andhisowngovernmentbeardirectresponsibilityis
    breathtakinglycynical.
    HavingfailedtofabricatealinkbetweenIraqandalQaeda,andprove
    thatIraqhasasecretarmouryofbannedweapons,thewarmongershavefallen
    backonthemoralcaseforanunprovokedattackonastrickencountry.
    Farcehasarrived.Wewanttolaughoutloud,adeepanddarkandalmost
    griefladenlaugh,atBlairsconcernforthevictimsofSaddamHusseinand
    his admonishment (printed in the Observer) of the millions of protesters:

    57
    Therewillbenoprotestsaboutthethousandsof[Iraqi]childrenthatdie
    needlesslyeveryyear
    First, lets look back to Saddams most famous victim, the British
    journalistFarzadBazoft,whowashangedin1990forspying,abogustrial
    followingaboguscharge.Thoseofuswhoprotestedathismurderdidsoin
    the teeth of a smear campaign by the British government and a press
    determinedtocoverforBritainsfavouritetyrant.
    TheSunsmearedBazoftbypublishinghisconvictionforstealingwhen
    hewasastudentinformationsuppliedbyMI5onbehalfoftheThatcher
    government,whichwasthenseekinganyexcusenottosuspenditslucrative
    businessandarmsdealswiththeIraqidictator.TheMailandTodaysuggested
    thatSaddamwasrightthatBazoftwasaspy.Inamemorableeditorial,the
    SundayTelegraph equatedinvestigativejournalismwithcriminalespionage.
    DefendingSaddam,nothisvictim,wasclearlypreferable.
    WhatdidTonyBlairsayaboutthisoutrage?Icanfindnothing.Did
    Blairjointhoseofuswhoprotested,onthestreetsandinprint,atthefactthat
    ministers such as Douglas Hurd were commuting to Baghdad, with Hurd
    goingespeciallytocelebratetheanniversaryofthecomingtopowerofthe
    dictatorIdescribedasrenownedastheinterrogatorofQasralNihayyah,the
    PalaceoftheEnd?
    ThereisnorecordofBlairsayinganythingsubstantiveaboutSaddam
    Husseins atrocities until after 11 September 2001 when the Americans,
    havingfailedtocatchOsamabinLaden,declaredSaddamtheirnumberone
    enemy.AsforBlairsassertionthattherehavebeennoprotestsaboutthe
    thousands of children that die needlessly under his rule, the answer is
    straightforward.
    There have been years of protests about the effects of the Anglo
    AmericanembargoonthechildrenofIraq.ThattheUS,backedbyBritain,is
    largelyresponsibleforthehundredsofthousandsofinnocentIraqideathsis
    thegreatunspokeninthesocalled mainstream ofpolitics andjournalism.
    That the embargo allowedSaddam Hussein tocentralise andreinforce his
    domestic control is equally unmentionable. Whenever the voluminous
    evidenceofsuchamonumentalwesterncrimeagainsthumanityislaidout,
    thecrocodiletearsofBlairandtherestofthewarmongersbarelydisguise
    theircynicism.
    Denis Halliday, the former assistant secretary general of the United
    Nations who was the senior UN official in Baghdad, has many times
    identifiedthegenocideoftheAmericandrivensanctions.TheUNsFood
    andAgriculturalOrganisation(FAO)haspaidtributetotheIraqirationing
    system,givingitcreditforsavinganentirepopulationfromfamine.This,like
    theevidenceandwitnessofHallidayandhissuccessor,HansvonSponeck,
    and the United Nations Childrens Fund (Unicef) and the Catholic Relief
    Agency (Cafod) and the 70 members of the US Congress who wrote to

    58
    President Clinton describing the embargo as infanticide masquerading as
    policy,hasbeenairbrushedout.[.]
    JohnPilger,WhenSaddamhangedaBritishjournalistin1990,MI5hadthe
    journalistsmearedintheSun,andtheMailagreedhewasaspy.WhatdidBlairsay?
    JohnPilgercanfindnothing(March27,2003),
    http://pilger.carlton.com/print/132122.

    One of Tony Blairs Labour Party colleagues, George Galloway, MP for


    GlasgowKelvin,haswrittenasfollowsabouttheBritishprimeministersposition.
    WhatmostirksmyprowarparliamentarycolleaguesisthequestionI
    regularlyputtothem:howhasitcomeaboutthataLabourgovernment,a
    Labourgovernment,isshuttlingaroundinlimousines,fromcapitaltocapital,
    intheserviceofaforeignpoweracting,asthe WallStreetJournal hadit,
    as Americas newest and brightest ambassador? As we know, an
    ambassadorissomeonesentabroadtolieforhiscountry.Itreallyhascometo
    somethingwhenthePrimeMinisterofGreatBritainissentabroadtoliefor
    someoneelse'scountry.
    He is roving ambassador to the rightwing, bornagain, Biblebelting
    fundamentalistcrewwhichfirstturnedTexasintothetoxicexecutionchamber
    oftheWesternworld,andhasnow,viaafourthreevoteintheSupremeCourt
    andalotofpregnantchads,givenbirthtoagovernmentwhichisabyword
    for treatybusting protocol, scuppering, agreementwrecking international
    thuggery.Allattemptsbytheworldtoriditselfofsuchplaguesaslandmines,
    proliferatingsmallarms,pollution,chemicalandbiologicalweapons(I'mnot
    makingthatlastoneup:theUShasblockednewregulationsonthebasisthat
    itwouldrequirethemtoallowUNinspectorstoseetheirinventories)have
    beenwreckedbythegovernmentnowrepresentedontheglobalstagebyTony
    Blair.
    GeorgeGalloway,BlairRidesShotgunforBush,TheSpectator(March15,2003),
    http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=15&ItemID=3251.

    (d)ThescandalofBlairsplagiarized

    Dossier
    AtonepointinhisFebruary5,2003presentationtotheUNSecurityCouncil,
    U.S.SecretaryofStateColinPowellsaid,Iwouldcallmycolleaguesattentionto
    the fine paper that the United Kingdom distributed yesterday which describes in
    detailIraqideceptionactivities.
    Thepaperinquestion,Iraqits infrastructureofconcealment,deception
    and intimidation, was first published by Prime Minister Tony Blairs Downing

    59
    StreetofficeonJanuary30,2003.OnFebruary5,2003GlenRangwala,alecturerin
    politics at Cambridge University, exposed this fine paper as consisting very
    largelyofmaterialplagiarizedfromacademicsourcespublishedbetween1997and
    2002.Rangwalaidentifiespp.6,912,andpartsofpp.1314asplagiarizedfrom
    IbrahimalMarashisessayIraqsSecurityandIntelligenceNetwork:AGuideand
    Analysis, MiddleEastReviewofInternationalAffairs (September2002).Mostof
    pp.78and1416iscopiedfromtwoarticlesbySeanBoynepublishedin Janes
    IntelligenceReview (JulyandAugust1997);andmaterialonpp.7,13and15is
    liftedfromanarticlebyKenGauseinthesamejournal(November2002).Rangwala
    notes that Marashis typographical errors and anomalous uses of grammar are
    incorporated into the Downing Street documentwhich also, however, makes a
    numberofdeliberatechangestoitssourcematerial.
    TherearetwotypesofchangesincorporatedintotheBritishdocument.
    Firstly,numbersareincreasedorroundedup.So,forexample,thesectionon
    FedayeenSaddam(pp.1516)isdirectlycopiedfromBoyne,almostword
    for word. The only substantive difference is that Boyne estimates the
    personneloftheorganisationtobe18,00040,000(Gausesimilarlyestimates
    1040,000).TheBritishdossierinsteadwrites30,000to40,000.Asimilar
    bumping up of figures occurs with the description of the Directorate of
    MilitaryIntelligence.
    The second type of change in the British dossier is that it replaces
    particularwordstomaketheclaimsoundstronger.So,forexample,mostofp.
    9onthefunctionsoftheMukhabaratiscopieddirectlyfromMarashisarticle,
    exceptthatwhenMarashiwritesofitsrolein:
    monitoringforeignembassiesinIraq
    thisbecomesintheBritishdossier:
    spyingonforeignembassiesinIraq.
    Similarly,onthatsamepage,whilstMarashiwritesoftheMukhabarat:
    aidingoppositiongroupsinhostileregimes
    theBritishdossierrendersthisas:
    supportingterroristorganisationsinhostileregimes.[.]
    Apart from the obvious criticism that the British government has
    plagiarisedtextswithoutacknowledgement,passingthemoffastheworkof
    theintelligence services,there aretwofurtherserious problems.Firstly,it
    indicatesthattheUKatleastreallydoesnothaveanyindependentsourcesof
    informationonIraqsinternalpoliticstheyjustdrawonpubliclyavailable
    data.Thusanyfurtherclaimstoinformationbasedonintelligencedatamust
    betreatedwithevenmorescepticism.
    Secondly,theinformationpresentedasbeinganaccuratestatementof
    thecurrentstateofIraqssecurityorganisationsmaynotbeanythingofthe
    sort.Marashitherealandunwittingauthorofmuchofthedocumenthas
    ashisprimarysourcethedocumentscapturedin1991fortheIraqResearch

    60
    and Documentation Project. His own focus is the activities of Iraqs
    intelligenceagenciesinKuwait,Aug.90Jan.91thisisthesubjectofhis
    thesis.Asaresult,theinformationpresentedasrelevanttohowIraqiagencies
    arecurrentlyengagedwithUnmovic[theUNweaponsinspectionteam]is12
    yearsold.
    GlenRangwala,BritishIntelligenceIraqDossierReliesonRecycledAcademic
    Articles(February5,2003),
    http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/iraq/attack/2003/0205plagiarism.htm.

    TherevelationshaveleftPrimeMinisterTonyBlairsofficetryingto
    fendoffchargesofplagiarismoveradossierBlairisusingtosellwaragainst
    IraqtoaBritishpublicthatiswidelyopposed.
    AnMPfromBlairsownLabourparty,formercabinetministerGlenda
    Jackson,saidtheprimeministersofficewouldbeguiltyofattemptingto
    misleadthecountryandparliamentontheissueofapossiblewarwithIraqif
    itturnsouttheplagiarizedmaterialwaspassedoffasintelligence.
    And ofcourse to mislead is a parliamentary euphemism for lying,
    JacksontoldtheBBCradiosTodayprogramyesterday.
    AddedLabourMPPeterKilfoyle:Itjustaddstothegeneralimpression
    thatwhatwehavebeentreatedtoisafarragoofhalftruths,assertionsand
    overthetopspin.
    SandroContenta,U.K.denieschargesofplagiarism, TorontoStar (February8,
    2003):A10.

    (e)AnotherBritishforgery:uraniumfromNiger
    Theinformation presentedhere is from Seymour Hersh's March 31,2003
    article in The New Yorker, cited below. On September 24, 2002, CIA Director
    GeorgeTenetbriefedtheSenateForeignRelationsCommitteeonIraq'sweapons
    capability.Duringthissecretbriefing,Tenetrepeatedtheclaimthathighstrength
    aluminumtubeswhichIraqsaidwereintendedformissileswereactuallyintendedfor
    theconstructionofuraniumprocessingcentrifuges.Tenetsupportedtheclaimthat
    Iraqhadanactivenuclearweaponsprogramwithanewandstrikingfact:theC.I.A.
    hadrecentlyreceivedintelligenceshowingthat,between1999and2001,Iraqhad
    attemptedtobuyfivehundredtonsoruraniumoxidefromNiger,oneoftheworld's
    largest producers. On the same day, the British government released a dossier
    claiming thatIraqhadsoughttobuysignificant quantities ofuraniumfroman
    unnamedAfricancountry,despitehavingnoactivecivilnuclearpowerprogramme
    thatcouldrequireit.Theallegationattractedimmediateattention;aheadlineinthe
    LondonGuardiandeclared,AFRICANGANGSOFFERROUTETOURANIUM.

    61
    OnSeptember26,SecretaryofStateColinPowellrepeatedTenetsandtheBlair
    governmentsclaimbeforetheSenateForeignRelationsCommitteeasevidenceof
    [Iraq's]persistentnuclearambitions.Theserepresentationshadadefiniteimpacton
    congressionaldeliberationsoveraresolutionauthorizingPresidentGeorgeW.Bush
    tomakewaronIraq:theresolutionwasoverwhelminglyapprovedbyCongresstwo
    weekslater.
    PresidentBushcitedtheuraniumdeal,alongwiththealuminumtubes,
    inhisStateoftheUnionMessage,onJanuary28th,whilecreditingBritainas
    the source of the information: The British government has learned that
    Saddam Hussein recently sought significant quantities of uranium from
    Africa.Hecommented,SaddamHusseinhasnotcrediblyexplainedthese
    activities.Heclearlyhasmuchtohide.
    Then the story fell apart. On March 7th, Mohamed ElBaradei, the
    directorgeneraloftheInternationalAtomicEnergyAgency,inVienna,told
    the U.N. Security Council that the documents involving the NigerIraq
    uraniumsalewerefakes.TheI.A.E.A.hasconcluded,withtheconcurrence
    of outside experts, that these documents are in fact not authentic,
    ElBaradeisaid.
    One senior I.A.E.A. official went further. He told me, These
    documentsaresobadthatIcannotimaginethattheycamefromaserious
    intelligenceagency.Itdepressesme,giventhelowqualityofthedocuments,
    thatitwasnotstopped.Atthelevelitreached,Iwouldhaveexpectedmore
    checking.
    TheI.A.E.A.hadfirstsoughtthedocumentslastfall,shortlyafterthe
    British government released its dossier. After months of pleading by the
    I.A.E.A.,theUnitedStatesturnedthemovertoJacquesBaute,whoisthe
    directoroftheagencysIraqNuclearVerificationOffice.
    IttookBautesteamonlyafewhourstodeterminethatthedocuments
    werefake.Theagencyhadbeengivenaboutahalfdozenlettersandother
    communicationsbetweenofficialsinNigerandIraq,manyofthemwrittenon
    letterheadsoftheNigergovernment.Theproblemswereglaring.Oneletter,
    datedOctober10,2000,wassignedwiththenameofAlleleHabibou,aNiger
    MinisterofForeignAffairsandCoperation,whohadbeenoutofofficesince
    1989.Anotherletter,allegedlyfromTandjaMamadou,thePresidentofNiger,
    hasasignaturethathadobviouslybeenfakedandatextwithinaccuraciesso
    egregious,theseniorI.A.E.A.official said,thattheycouldbespottedby
    someoneusingGoogleontheInternet.
    The large quantity of uranium involved should have been another
    warning sign. Nigers yellow cake comes from two uranium mines
    controlled by a French company, with its entire output presold to nuclear
    powercompaniesinFrance,Japan,andSpain.Fivehundredtonscantbe
    siphonedoffwithoutanyonenoticing,anotherI.A.E.Aofficialtoldme.[.]

    62
    Baute, according to [this] I.A.E.A. official, confronted the United
    Stateswiththeforgery:Whatdoyouhavetosay?Theyhadnothingtosay.
    ElBaradeis disclosure has not been disputed by any government or
    intelligenceofficialinWashingtonorLondon.ColinPowell,askedaboutthe
    forgery during a television interview two days after ElBaradeis report,
    dismissed the subject by saying, If the issue is resolved, that issue is
    resolved.Afewdayslater,ataHousehearing,hedeniedthatanyoneinthe
    UnitedStatesgovernmenthadanythingtodowiththeforgery.Itcamefrom
    other sources, Powell testified. It was provided in good faith to the
    inspectors.[.]
    The Bush administrations reliance on the Niger documents may,
    however,havestemmedfrommorethanbureaucraticcarelessnessorpolitical
    overreaching.Forgeddocumentsandfalseaccusationshavebeenanelement
    inU.S.andBritishpolicytowardIraqatleastsincethefallof1997,afteran
    impasse over U.N. inspections. Then as now, the Security Council was
    divided,withtheFrench,theRussians,andtheChinesetelling theUnited
    StatesandtheUnitedKingdomthattheywerebeingtootoughontheIraqis.
    PresidentBillClinton,weakenedbytheimpeachmentproceedings,hintedof
    renewed bombing, but, then as now, the British and the Americans were
    losing the battle for international public opinion. A former Clinton
    Administration official told me that London had resorted to, among other
    things, spreading false information about Iraq. The British propaganda
    programpartofitsInformationOperations,orI/Opswasknowntoafew
    senior officials in Washington. I knew what was going on, the former
    ClintonAdministrationofficialsaidoftheBritishefforts.Weweregetting
    readyforactioninIraq,andwewantedtheBritstoprepare.
    Overthenextyear,aformerAmericanintelligenceofficertoldme,at
    leastonememberoftheU.N.inspectionteamwhosupportedtheAmerican
    and British position arranged for dozens of unverified and unverifiable
    intelligencereportsandtipsdataknownasinactionableintelligencetobe
    funneledtoMI6operativesandquietlypassedalongtonewspapersinLondon
    andelsewhere.Itwasintelligencethatwascrap,andthatwecouldntmove
    on,buttheBritswantedtoplantstoriesinEnglandandaroundtheworld,the
    formerofficersaid.TherewasaseriesofclandestinemeetingswithMI6,at
    whichdocumentswereprovided,aswellasquietmeetings,usuallyatsafe
    housesintheWashingtonarea.TheBritishpropagandaschemeeventually
    becameknowntosomemembersoftheU.N.inspectionteam.Iknewabit,
    oneofficialstillondutyatU.N.headquartersacknowledgedlastweek,butI
    wasneverofficiallytoldaboutit.
    None of the past and present officials I spoke with were able to
    categoricallystatethatthefakeNigerdocumentswerecreatedorinstigatedby
    the same propaganda office in MI6 that had been part of the antiIraq
    propagandawarsinthelatenineteennineties.(AnMI6intelligencesource
    declinedtocomment.)

    63
    SeymoutM.Hersh,AnnalsofNationalSecurity:WhoLiedtoWhom?Whydidthe
    AdministrationendorseaforgeryaboutIraq'snuclearprogram?TheNewYorker
    (March31,2003),http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/?030331fa_fact1.(See
    alsoDanaPriestandKarenDeYoung,CIAQuestionedDocumentsLinkingIraq,
    UraniumOre,TheWashingtonPost(March22,2003):A30,
    http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wpdyn/A90112003Mar22.)

    (f) Oldwhoppers:murderedincubatorbabies(1990),265,000Iraqi
    troops massed on the Saudi border (1991), the supposed Iraqi
    attempttoassassinateGeorgeBushI(1993)
    Thereshouldbenoillusions:NomatterwhatBaghdadhasorhasnot
    mentionedinitsweaponsdisclosuredocuments,theUnitedStatesandalmost
    certainlyBritainaregoingtowar.
    IfamaterialbreachoftheUnitedNationsultimatumdoesnothappen
    by itself, it will bemanufacturedjust as consent was manufactured with
    breathtakingcynicismin1991.Thereweretwoglaringexamplesofhowthe
    propagandamachineworkedbeforethe1991GulfWar:
    First,inthefinaldaysbeforethewarstartedonJan.9,thePentagon
    insistedthatnotonlywasSaddamnotwithdrawingfromKuwait(hewas)but
    thathehad265,000troopspoisedinthedeserttopounceonSaudiArabia.
    The Pentagon claimed to have satellite photographs to proveit. Thus,the
    waverersandantiwarprotestersweresilenced.
    Wenowknowfromdeclassifieddocumentsandphotographstakenbya
    RussiancommercialsatellitethattherewerenoIraqitroopspoisedtoattack
    SaudiArabia.Atthetime,noonebotheredtoaskforproof.
    No one except Jean Heller, a fivetimes nominated, Pulitzer Prize
    winningjournalistfromthe St.PetersburgTimes inFloridawhopersuaded
    herbossestobuytwophotos,at$1,600(U.S.)each,fromtheSoyuzKarta
    commercial satellite. Guesswhat?Nomassingtroops.Youcouldseethe
    planessittingwingtiptowingtipinRiyadhairport,saysHeller,butthere
    wasntanysignofaquarterofamillionIraqitroopssittinginthemiddleof
    thedesert.So,whatwillthefakesatellitepicturesshowthistime?Amassive
    chemicalinstallationwithIraqigoblinscookingupanthrax?
    TheU.S.propagandamachineisalreadygearingup.Initssightsnowis
    ischiefU.N.weaponsinspectorHansBlix.Hestoomuchofasoftiefor
    Saddam, former CIA director James Wolsey said recently on the Today
    television program.His workis oflimited value. Hewas KofiAnnans
    secondchoice.Whatnext?BlixsgrannyisIraqi?Hehasadrugproblem?
    [.] The second tactic used to get consensus for war in 1991 was
    anotherpropagandaclassic:deadbabies.

    64
    Then,thedaughteroftheKuwaitiambassadorinWashington,Nijirah
    alSabah,tearfully describedhow,as avolunteer at AlAdnanHospital in
    KuwaitCity,shehadwatchedIraqisoldierslootingincubatorstotakebackto
    Baghdad,pitchingtheKuwaitibabiesontothecoldfloortodie.
    Exceptitneverhappened.TheFilipinonurseswhoworkedintheAl
    Adnanmaternity ward,Frieda ConstrueNagandMyraAncogCooke,had
    neverseenMs.alSabahintheirlives.
    Amnesty International admitted it had been duped and Middle East
    Watchconfirmedthefabrication,butitwastoolate:amarginalU.S.Congress
    had been swung to vote for war. George Bush the elder mentioned the
    incubatorbabiesseventimesinprewarrallyingspeeches.Itwasmonths
    beforethetruthcameout.Bythen,thewarwasover.
    MaggieOKane,Thefirenexttime,TheTorontoStar(Dec.22,2002),B1.

    Myconcerninthesesituations,always,isthattheintelligenceyouget
    is driven by the policy, rather than the policy being driven by the
    intelligence,saysformerUSRep.LeeHamilton(D)ofIndiana,a34year
    veteranlawmakeruntil1999,whoservedonnumerousforeignaffairsand
    intelligence committees, and is now director of the Woodrow Wilson
    InternationalCenterforScholarsinWashington.TheBushteamunderstands
    it has not yet carried the burden of persuasion [about an imminent Iraqi
    threat],sotheywilllookforanykindofevidencetosupporttheirpremise,
    Mr.Hamiltonsays.Ithinkwehavetobescepticalaboutit.[.]
    JohnMacArthur,publisherofHarpersMagazineandauthorofSecond
    Front:CensorshipandPropagandaintheGulfWar,saysthatconsideringthe
    numberofseniorofficialssharedbybothBushadministrations,theAmerican
    publicshouldbearinmindthelessonsofGulfWarpropaganda.
    Theseareallthesamepeoplewhowererunningitmorethan10years
    ago,Mr.MacArthursays.Theyllmakeupjustaboutanythingtoget
    theirway.
    OnIraq,analystsnotethatlittleevidencesofarofanimminentthreat
    fromMr.Husseinsweaponsofmassdestructionhasbeenmadepublic.
    Critics, includingsomeformerUnitedNations weaponsinspectors in
    Iraq,saynosuchevidenceexists.Mr.Bushsayshewillmakehisdecisionto
    gotowarbasedonthebestintelligence.
    Youhavetowonderaboutthequalityofthatintelligence,saysMr.
    HamiltonatWoodrowWilson.
    Thisadministrationiscapableofanylieinordertoadvanceitsgoal
    inIraq,saysaUSgovernmentsourceinWashingtonwithsometwodecades
    ofexperienceinintelligence,whowouldnotbefurtheridentified.Itisoneof
    the reasons it doesnt want to have UN weapons inspectors go back in,
    because they might actually show that the probability of Iraq having
    [threateningillicitweapons]ismuchlowerthantheywantustobelieve.

    65

    ScottPeterson,Inwar,somefactslessfactual:SomeUSassertionsfromthelast
    waronIraqstillappeardubious,ChristianScienceMonitor(September6,2003),
    http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0906/p01s02wosc.htm.

    TheCIA officials saidtheybelieved thatthe lastterroristoperation


    triedbyIraqagainsttheUnitedStateswastheassassinationattemptagainst
    thefirstPresidentBushduringhisvisittoKuwaitin1993anallegedplot
    thatwassupposedlydisruptedbeforeitcouldbecarriedout.Thisfabricated
    plottoassassinateformerPresidentGeorgeBushSr.wascomprehensively
    demolishedbySeymourHershinaforensicarticleintheNewYorkermany
    years later. One of the key claims linking the alleged plot to the Iraqi
    governmentwasthattheremotecontrolfiringdevicefoundintheKuwaiticar
    bomb supposedly intended for George Bush has a uniquely identifying
    signatureusedinpreviouslyrecoveredIraqibombs.
    TheUSAdministrationreleasedcolourphotographsofthefiringdevices
    to substantiate its case. Mr Hersh asked seven independent experts in
    electricalengineeringandbombforensicstolookatthephotographs.Theyall
    toldhimessentiallythesamething:theremotecontrolleddevicesshownin
    theWhiteHousephotographsweremassproduceditems[].Theexperts,
    who included former police officers, government contract employees and
    professorsofelectricalengineering,agreed,too,thatthetwodeviceshadno
    signatures[].
    TheUSretaliation forthealleged Iraqibombplotwas tolaunch23
    Tomahawkcruisemissiles,20ofwhichhittheirtargets,threeofwhichlanded
    onhousesinthesurroundingresidentialarea.Eightcivilianswerekilled.Even
    ifthecarbombplothadbeenproventobetheworkoftheIraqis,therewasno
    legal basis for this assault, which must therefore count as an act of
    internationalterrorism.
    Milan Rai, War Plan Iraq: Ten Reasons Against War on Iraq (London: Verso,
    2002),p.132.

    (g)Newerlies:IraqssupposedexpulsionoftheUNSCOMweapons
    inspectors(1998)
    ItisoftensaidthatUNSCOMwasthrownoutofIraqinDecember1998.
    Infact,theagencywaswithdrawnonWashingtonsorders.Ifanyoneejected
    UNSCOM,itwastheUnitedStates.ThefirstUNSCOMwithdrawalinlate
    1998cameon11November1998,asUSmilitarystrikeswereanticipated.In
    hismemoirs,RichardButlerrecordsthatafterreceivingatelephonecallfrom

    66
    the acting US permanent representative to the UN, Ambassador Peter
    Burleigh, hevisited Burleighs office on 10November 1998. Ambassador
    BurleighsignalledtheUSintentiontostrikeIraqbytellingMrButlerthat,
    Considering the crisis Iraq had provoked and its refusal to obey the
    requirementsoftheSecurityCouncil,theUnitedStateshaddecidedtodraw
    downthestaffinitsembassiesthroughouttheregion.TheAmbassadorthen
    advisedMrButler,asexecutiveheadofUNSCOM,toconsiderevacuating
    UNSCOM staff from Iraq. [.] Mr Butler immediately ordered the
    evacuation ofUNSCOM personnel. However, thethreat ofmilitary action
    passedonthatoccasion[].
    ItwasnotuntilafterMrButlersDecemberreporthadbeencirculatedto
    membersoftheSecurityCouncilon15December1998thathewascalledin
    onceagainbyAmbassadorBurleigh.OnceagainBurleighurgedMrButlerto
    beprudentwiththesafetyandsecurityofUNSCOMstaff.Repeatinga
    familiarscript,ItoldhimthatIwouldactonhisadviceandremovemystaff
    from Iraq, Mr Butler later wrote. UNSCOM inspectors were withdrawn
    withinhours,nevertoreturn.MrButlercarriedoutthewithdrawalwithout
    eveninformingtheSecurityCouncil,thebodywhichtheinspectionagency
    supposedlyreportedto.
    Theplannedairstrikesweresupposedtobeprovokedbythecollapseof
    theinspectionprocess.Itwasthereforenecessarytowithdrawtheinspectors
    tobuildthepoliticalcaseformilitaryaction.SoUNSCOMwasejectedfrom
    Iraqtofacilitateafourdaybombingcampaign.
    [.]Afterthebombingstarted,[RussianAmbassadorSergey]Lavrov
    saidthatthecrisishadbeencreatedartificiallybytheirresponsibleactsof
    RichardButler,whiletheChineserepresentativeattheSecurityCouncilsaid
    MrButlerhadplayedadishonourableroleintheconfrontation.
    [.] The final nail in the coffin for UNSCOM was the string of
    revelations concerning the penetration of the agency by US intelligence,
    referred to in the July 2002 revelations by former UNSCOM head, Rolf
    Ekeus.ScottRitterrevealedafterhisresignationthatfromthespringof1992
    untilNovember1993heworkedcloselyinUNSCOMwithamanhecalled
    MoeDobbs,aCIASpecialActivitiesStaffcovertoperationsspecialist.
    [.]
    MrRitterlatercametosuspectthathehadbeenmanipulated,andthat
    UNSCOM 150 [a June 1996 operation focused on Republican Guard
    facilities]hadbeencoordinatedwithaCIAbackedcoupattemptwhichlater
    cametolight.
    Milan Rai, War Plan Iraq: Ten Reasons Against War on Iraq (London: Verso,
    2002),pp.5355.

    67
    In1998and1999itwasdifficultforthemediatoavoidsomeofthe
    more obvious facts about the withdrawal of arms inspectors from Iraq in
    December1998.NBCTodayaccuratelyreportedatthetime:
    The Iraq story boiled over last night when the chief UN weapons
    inspector, Richard Butler, said that Iraq had not fully cooperated with
    inspectorsas they had promised to do. As a result, the UN ordered its
    inspectors to leave Iraq this morning. (Katie Couric, NBCs Today,
    December 16, 1998. Quoted, What a difference 4 years makes: News
    coverageofwhytheinspectorsleftIraq,http://www.fair.org

    .)[.]
    Ayearlater,thisversionofeventswasstillcommonlyreportedbythe
    UKmedia:
    TheUNspecialcommissionchargedwithoverseeingthedestructionof
    IraqsweaponsofmassdestructionpulledoutofIraqinmidDecember,just
    beforetheUSandBritainlaunchedaseriesofairstrikes.(DavidHirst,Iraq
    turnsdownevilUNplantoeasesanctions, TheGuardian,December20.
    1999).[.]
    [.]SincetheelectionofGeorgeW.Bushandtheterroristattacksof
    September 11, Bush and Blair have appeared increasingly determined to
    launchafurtherassaultagainstIraqinpursuitofregimechange.Ifmilitary
    forceistobejustified,Iraqhastobeportrayedasacountrythatcannotbe
    reliedupontocooperatepeacefullywitharmsinspectors.Thisisnosimple
    taskIraqi lying and cat and mouse games aside, by 1998 Unscom arms
    inspectors had delivered9095%disarmamentaftersevenyearsofintrusive
    inspections.
    ThechangeinUS/UKgovernmentgoalshasbeenaccompaniedbya
    changeintheUS/UKmediaversionofwhathappenedinDecember1998.
    Thus,fouryearsafterthecommentquotedabove,NBC Today reports:As
    Washington debates when and how to attack Iraq, a surprise offer from
    Baghdad.ItisreadytotalkaboutreadmittingUNweaponsinspectorsafter
    kickingthemoutfouryearsago.(MauriceDuBois,NBCsSaturdayToday,
    August3,2002)
    ThesametransformationisfoundintheUKmedia.BrianWhitakerof
    TheGuardianwroteinFebruaryofthisyear[i.e.2002]:[Saddam]couldstill
    savehisskinbyallowingtheweaponsinspectorswhowerethrownoutof
    Iraqin1998toreturn.(Whitaker,LifeAfterSaddam:thewinnersand
    losers,TheGuardian,February25,2002)[.]
    TheIndependentreports:BillClintonorderedOperationDesertFox,
    the last big air offensive against Iraq, after the eviction of UN weapons
    inspectorsinDecember1998.(RupertCornwall,UnitedStatesPresident
    callsforsupportinsideandoutsideAmerica,TheIndependent,September5,
    2002)
    The Daily Telegraph is of course onside: Saddam refused UN
    weaponsinspectors access to sites such as his presidential palacesthen

    68
    expelled them from Iraq. (Editorial, Convince us, Mr Blair, Daily
    Telegraph,March31,2002)[.]
    Aroundthecountrythedeceptionisrepeatedagainandagain[].
    Thefactthatinspectorshadbeenfundamentallysuccessfulindisarming
    Iraq,andwerewithdrawnafterthespyingscandalerupted,andafterdeliberate
    attemptstoprovoketheIraqis,addsunwantedcolourtotheblackandwhite
    pictureofeventsthattheUS/UKgovernmentsareseekingtoimposeonthe
    public.Onlyastarkgoodversusevilclashhasthepowertogeneratethe
    requiredpublicsupportformilitaryactionnuanceisaliability.
    Itgoeswithoutsayingthatthemediumforcommunicatingthislethally
    distortedpictureoftheworldisthecorporatemassmediawithoutthem,it
    simplycouldnotbedone.Thisistheawesomeextentoftheirresponsibility
    formassviolenceleadingtomassdeath.
    MediaLensAlert:IraqandArmsInspectorsTheBigLie,Part2,MediaLens
    (October29,2002),http://www.medialens.org/alerts/021029_Big_Lie2.HTM.

    (h)Recentfictions:IraqilinkswithalQaeda
    AsitmakesitscaseagainstIraqiPresidentSaddamHussein,theBush
    administrationhasfornowdroppedwhathadbeenacentralargumentusedby
    supportersofmilitaryactionagainstBaghdad:IraqslinkstoalQaedaand
    otherterroristorganizations.
    Althoughadministrationofficialssaytheyarestilltryingtodevelopa
    case linking SaddamHussein toglobal terrorism, the CIA has yet tofind
    convincing evidence, according to senior intelligence officials and outside
    expertswithknowledgeofdiscussionswithintheUSGovernment.
    Analystswhohavescrutinisedphotographs,communicationsintercepts
    and information from foreign informants say they cannot validate two
    prominent allegations made by the government: links between President
    SaddamandalQaedamemberswhohavetakenrefugeinnorthernIraq,and
    anApril,2001,meetinginPraguebetweenSeptember11hijackerMohamed
    AttaandanIraqiintelligenceagent.
    DanaPriest,CIAfailstofindIraqilinktoterror,TheAge[Australia](September
    11,2002),http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/09/10/1031608245289.html.

    Foraconcisediscussionoftherepeatedandfutileattempts oftheU.S.
    governmenttoestablishlinksbetweenSaddamHusseinandalQaeda,seeMilanRai,
    WarPlanIraq:TenReasonsAgainstWaronIraq(London:Verso,2002),pp.12932.

    69

    (i)Recentfictions:thethreatofIraqsweaponry
    OneofthemoregrotesquefeaturesoftheAmericanandBritishpropaganda
    campaignhasbeentheinsistentattemptsofBushandBlairandtheirsubordinatesto
    terrorizetheirownpopulationswithclaimsindefianceofallavailableevidence
    thattheyareinimminentdangerofchemical,biological,orevennuclearattackfrom
    ademonizedSaddamHussein,workinghandinhandwithOsamabinLaden(who,
    becausehehasalsobeendemonized,canontheologicalifnotevidentiarygroundsbe
    assertedtobeincahootswiththeIraqidictator).
    Typical of this propaganda rhetoric are George W. Bushs (groundless)
    assertionsinhisCincinnatispeechofOctober7,2002:WevelearnedthatIraqhas
    trained Al Qaeda members in bomb making and poisons and deadly gases. [.]
    Facingclearevidenceofperil,wecannotwaitforthefinalproofthesmokinggun
    thatcouldcomeintheformofamushroomcloud.
    The following texts, which include Glen Rangwalas scrupulous and
    exhaustiveassessmentofallavailableevidenceofweaponsofmassdestructionin
    Iraq, reveal the increasing desperation of American attempts to find the desired
    evidence.
    JosephCurl,AgencydisavowsreportonIraqarms,TheWashington
    Times(September27,2002),
    http://www.washtimes.com/printarticle.asp?
    action=print&ArticleID=20020927500715.
    PaulReynolds,CIAunderminespropagandawar,BBCNews:World
    Edition(October10,2002).
    http://www.news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2315967.stm.
    GregMillerandBobDrogin,CIAFeelsHeatonIraqData,LosAngeles
    Times(October11,2002),http://www.latimes.com/lana
    cia11oct11,0,2360915.story.
    WilliamRiversPitt,ThePureEssenceofStupid,Truthout(December
    12,2002),http://www.truthout.org/docs_02/12.12A.wrp.stupid.htm
    RirasAlAtraqchi,TheU.S.willnotreleasevitalevidenceagainstIraq,
    YellowTimes(January21,2003),http://yellowtimes.org/article.php?
    sid=1007.
    GlenRangwala,ClaimsandevaluationsofIraqsproscribedweapons
    (February18,2003),http://www.traprockpeace.org/weapons.html.
    NikoPrice,"Iraqsaysducttapeddronewasneverhidden,"NationalPost
    (March13,2003):A15.
    SeymourM.Hersh,AnnalsofNationalSecurity:WhoLiedtoWhom?
    WhydidtheAdministrationendorseaforgeryaboutIraq'snuclear
    program?TheNewYorker(March31,2003),
    http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/?030331fa_fact1.

    70

    (j) Attempts to manipulate and distort the weapons inspectors


    reports
    American officials, most notably Bushs National Security Advisor
    CondoleezzaRice,appeartohavemadestrenuousattemptsfirsttomanipulate,and
    subsequentlytodistort,thereportsoftheUNweaponsinspectors.
    AgenceFrancePresse,IraqLargelyCooperatingwithInspectors,UN
    SecurityCouncilHears,Truthout(January28,2003),
    http://www.truthout.org/docsa_02/012903B.irq.jan27.htm.
    JudithMillerandJuliaPreston,USismisquotingmyIraqreport,says
    Blix,SydneyMorningHerald(February1,2003),
    http://www.smh.com,au/articles/2003/01/31/1043804520548.html.
    ColumLynch,Rice,BlixConferonIraqBriefing:Acknowledgmentof
    ViolationUrged,TheWashingtonPost(February12,2003),
    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/articles/A59530
    2003Feb11.html.

    7.IstheUnitedStatesaRogueState?
    ThissectioncontainsexcerptsfromwritingsbyNoamChomsky,DavidCorn,
    DavidGreenberg,SeymourHersh,SaulLandau,RussellMokhiber,JohnPilger,and
    YifatSusskind.
    TherelevantlegalframeworkisformulatedintheCharteroftheUnited
    Nations,asolemntreatyrecognizedasthefoundationofinternationallaw
    andorder,andundertheU.S.Constitution,thesupremelawoftheland.
    The Charter states that The Security Council shall determine the
    existenceofanythreattothepeace,breachofthepeace,oractofaggression,
    andshallmakerecommendations,ordecidewhatmeasuresshallbetakenin
    accordancewithArticles41and42,whichdetailthepreferredmeasuresnot
    involvingtheuseofarmedforceandpermittheSecurityCounciltotake
    further action if it finds such measures inadequate. The only exception is
    Article51,whichpermitstherightofindividualorcollectiveselfdefense
    againstarmedattackuntiltheSecurityCouncilhastakenthemeasures
    necessary to maintain international peace and security. Apart from these

    71
    exceptions,memberstatesshallrefrainintheirinternationalrelationsfrom
    thethreatoruseofforce.
    NoamChomsky,RogueStates,ZMagazine(Apr.1998),
    http://www.zmag.org/Zmag/articles/chomskyapr98.htm.

    Contempt for the rule of law is deeply rooted in U.S. practice and
    intellectualculture.Recall,forexample,thereactiontothejudgmentofthe
    WorldCourtin1986condemningtheU.S.forunlawfuluseofforceagainst
    Nicaragua, demanding that it desist and pay extensive reparations, and
    declaringallU.S.aidtothecontras,whateveritscharacter,tobemilitary
    aid,nothumanitarianaid.Thecourtwasdenouncedonallsidesforhaving
    discrediteditself.Thetermsofthejudgmentwerenotconsideredfittoprint,
    andwereignored.TheDemocratcontrolledCongressimmediatelyauthorized
    newfundstostepuptheunlawfuluseofforce.WashingtonvetoedaSecurity
    Council resolution calling on all states to respect international lawnot
    mentioninganyone,thoughtheintentwasclear.WhentheGeneralAssembly
    passedasimilarresolution,theU.S.votedagainstit,effectivelyvetoingit,
    joinedonlybyIsraelandElSalvador;thefollowingyear,onlytheautomatic
    Israelivotecouldbegarnered.Littleofthisreceivedmentioninthemediaor
    journalsofopinion,letalonewhatitsignifies.
    SecretaryofStateGeorgeShultzmeanwhileexplained(April14,1986)
    thatNegotiationsareaeuphemismforcapitulationiftheshadowofpoweris
    not cast across the bargaining table. He condemned those who advocate
    utopian,legalisticmeanslikeoutsidemediation,theUnitedNations,andthe
    WorldCourt,whileignoringthepowerelementoftheequationsentiments
    notwithoutprecedentinmodernhistory.
    The open contempt for Article 51 is particularly revealing. It was
    demonstrated with remarkable clarity immediately after the 1954 Geneva
    accordsonapeacefulsettlementforIndochina,regardedasadisasterby
    Washington,whichmovedatoncetounderminethem.TheNationalSecurity
    CouncilsecretlydecreedthateveninthecaseoflocalCommunistsubversion
    orrebellionnotconstitutingarmedattack,theU.S.wouldconsidertheuseof
    military force,includinganattack onChinaifitisdetermined tobethe
    source of the subversion (NSC 5429/2; my emphasis). The wording,
    repeatedverbatimannuallyinplanningdocuments,waschosensoastomake
    explicittheU.S.righttoviolateArticle51.Thesamedocumentcalledfor
    remilitarizingJapan,convertingThailandintothefocalpointofU.S.covert
    and psychological operations in Southeast Asia, undertaking covert
    operations on a large and effective scale throughout Indochina, and in
    general,actingforcefullytounderminetheAccordsandtheUNCharter.[.]
    TheU.S.proceededtodefineaggressiontoincludepoliticalwarfare,
    or subversion (by someone else, that is)what Adlai Stevenson called
    internalaggressionwhiledefendingJFKsescalationtoafullscaleattack

    72
    againstSouthVietnam.WhentheU.S.bombedLibyancities in1986,the
    officialjustificationwasselfdefenseagainstfutureattack.[.]TheU.S.
    invasionofPanamawasdefendedintheSecurityCouncilbyAmbassador
    ThomasPickeringbyappealtoArticle51,which,hedeclared,providesfor
    theuseofarmedforcetodefendacountry,todefendourinterestsandour
    people,andentitlestheU.S.toinvadePanamatopreventitsterritoryfrom
    beingusedasabaseforsmugglingdrugsintotheUnitedStates.Educated
    opinionnoddedsagelyinassent.
    InJune1993,ClintonorderedamissileattackonIraq,killingcivilians
    andgreatlycheeringthepresident,congressionaldoves,andthepress,who
    foundtheattackappropriate,reasonableandnecessary.Commentatorswere
    particularlyimpressedbyAmbassadorAlbrightsappealtoArticle51.The
    bombing,sheexplained,wasinselfdefenseagainstarmedattacknamely,
    anallegedattempttoassassinateformerpresidentBushtwomonthsearlier,an
    appealthatwouldhavescarcelyrisentothelevelofabsurdityeveniftheU.S.
    had been able to demonstrate Iraqi involvement; Administration officials,
    speakinganonymously,informedthepressthatthejudgmentofIraqsguilt
    was based on circumstantial evidence and analysis rather than ironclad
    intelligence,theNewYorkTimesreported,dismissingthematter.[.]
    The record lends considerable support to the concern widely voiced
    about rogue states that are dedicated to the rule of force, acting in the
    national interest as defined by domestic power; most ominously, rogue
    statesthatanointthemselvesglobaljudgeandexecutioner.
    NoamChomsky,RogueStates,ZMagazine(Apr.1998),
    http://www.zmag.org/ZMag/articles/chomskyapr98.htm.

    Whataretheoddsthatthepeopleinleadingpositionsinaroguestatewill
    themselves be roguesor, lets be frank, criminals? Set aside the records of
    George W. Bush and his vicepresident Dick Cheney, both of whom have been
    plausibly accused of insider trading and other corporate crimes. Recent senior
    appointmentsinBushsadministrationaresymptomaticofarogueadministrations
    contemptforinternationalaswellasdomesticlaw.
    John Poindexter, appointed in February 2002 to run a Big Brotherlike
    Pentagon operation called Total Information Awareness that promisesif news
    reportscanbebelievedtoharvestallknowninformationabouteverybodyintoa
    searchable Internet database (Greenberg, B1), was previously Ronald Reagans
    nationalsecurityadviser.Inthatcapacityheranthesecretarmsforhostagesdeal
    withIranthatwasused,indirectviolationofUSlaw,tofundthemercenarycontra
    armies used to attack Nicaragua. When he was found out, he concealed his
    activities, destroyed evidence and lied to Congress (Greenberg, B4); he was
    convicted of five felonies involving conspiracy, obstruction of Congress, and
    makingfalsestatements(Landau).

    73
    Elliott Abrams, appointed in December 2002 to the senior Middle East
    positiononBushsNationalSecurityCouncil,wasalsouptohisneckintheIran
    ContrascandalasReagansDeputyAssistantSecretaryofStatetoCentralAmerica,
    andwasconvictedontwoaccountsoflyingtoCongress;hisCongressionaltestimony
    includedtheimmortaldeclarationthatIneversaidIhadnoideaaboutmostofthe
    thingsyousaidIhadnoideaabout(quotedbyLandau).
    Though Poindexters conviction was overturned on a technicality by
    conservativeappellatejudges,andthoughAbramswasgivenapresidentialpardon
    by George Bush I, there is no doubt that they committed the crimes they were
    convictedofaswellasviolationsofinternationallawwhichwereofnointerestto
    theU.S.courts.
    OtherreturnedroguesareOttoReich(specialWhiteHouseadviserforLatin
    America)andJohnNegroponte(AmbassadortotheUN),bothofthemveteransofthe
    IranContra period. As Saul Landau writes, Reich was minister of lying to the
    publicfromhisOfficeofPublicDiplomacyandNegroponteasUSAmbassadorto
    Honduras had to cover upnow he has forgottenthe dreadful behavior of our
    allies.
    But for sheer audacity, Bushs (briefly accepted) appointment of Henry
    Kissinger to conduct an inquiry into intelligence and security failings prior to
    September11,2001takesthecake.Thiswas,asDavidCornwrote, ascrewyou
    affront to any American who believes the public deserves a full accounting of
    governmentactionsorlackthereof.
    AsNixonsnationalsecurityadviserandSecretaryofState,Kissingershares
    responsibilityforthesecretbombingofCambodiain196970,andfortheoverthrow
    ofdemocraticallyelectedgovernmentsinBangladesh(1971)andChile(September
    11, 1973). As Gerald Fords Secretary of State, he shares responsibility for the
    appallingwarcrimescommittedbyIndonesiainEastTimorin1975andafter,and
    for the largescale torture, kidnapping and murder carried out by the fascistic
    Argentinianjuntain1976andafter.Kissingerisaccusedofdirectimplicationinthe
    supportandfinancingoftheassassinsofChileanGeneralRenSchneiderin1970;
    heisaccusedofsupportingtheterroristmurderofOrlandoLetelierinWashingtonin
    1976.HeisalsowantedforquestioningbyjudgesinFranceandSpainaswellasby
    theChileanSupremeCourtinrelationtocrimesagainsthumanity.
    Sources:DavidCorn,KissingersBack,TheNation(Dec.1,2002),
    http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=40&ItemID=2685;David
    Greenberg,Back,ButNotByPopularDemand:RoguesRiseAgain,The
    WashingtonPost(Dec.8,2002),B1,B4;andSaulLandau,TheBushVisionand
    theCultureofPower,ZNet(Dec.12,2002),
    http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=15&ItemID=2740.

    Mokhiber:Ari,otherthanElliotAbrams,howmanyconvictedcriminalsare
    ontheWhiteHousestaff?
    AriFleischer:Youtellme,Russell.

    74
    Mokhiber:CouldyougivealistofconvictedcriminalsontheWhiteHouse
    staff,otherthanElliotAbrams?
    AriFleischer:Illgorighttotheconvictedcriminalsdivisionandaskthem.
    Mokhiber:Seriously,whyisntbeingconvictedofacrimeadisqualifierfor
    beingontheWhiteHousestaff?
    AriFleischer:Russell,thisisanissuethatyouliketorepeateverybriefing
    Mokhiber:ButyoudontansweritAri.
    RussellMokhiber,Ari&I:WhiteHousePressBriefingwithAriFleischer
    (Monday,January6,200312:30pm),
    http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/010608.htm.

    AnotherimportantBushgangrogueisRichardPerle,AssistantSecretaryof
    DefenseunderRonaldReagan,whowasoneofthefoundersoftheProjectforthe
    NewAmericanCentury(seesection9[c]ofthisdossier),andisnowthechairmanof
    theDefensePolicyBoard,aU.S.DefenseDepartmentadvisorygroup composed
    primarilyofhighlyrespectedformergovernmentofficials,retiredmilitaryofficers,
    andacademics(Hersh,76).AsherevealedinastatementquotedbyJohnPilgerin
    speakingaboutAmerica'swaronterror,Perlenurtureshiswarmongeringwith
    sickfantasiesoffiguringinsomefutureepicpoemofAmericanimperialism:
    Nostages,hesaid.Thisistotalwar.Wearefightingavarietyof
    enemies.Therearelotsofthemoutthere.Allthistalkaboutfirstwe
    aregoingtodoAfghanistan,thenwewilldoIraqthisisentirelythe
    wrongwaytogoaboutit.Ifwejustletourvisionoftheworldgo
    forth,andweembraceitentirelyandwedon'ttrytopiecetogether
    cleverdiplomacy,butjustwageatotalwarourchildrenwillsing
    greatsongsaboutusyearsfromnow.
    JohnPilger,Neoconsandtheirplansforwar(January10,2003),
    http://sf.indymedia.org/news/2003/01/1559346.php.

    IftotalwarholdsouttoRichardPerletheposthumouspromiseofaminorrolein
    someyettobewrittenepiccelebrationoftheBushregimesconquestsletuscallit
    TheBushiaditalsooffershimmoreimmediateprospectsofpersonalenrichment.
    AschairmanoftheDefensePolicyBoard,Perleisaspecialgovernmentemployee,
    andthereforesubjecttoafederalcodeofconductwhichbarsanyspecialemployee
    fromparticipatinginanofficialcapacityinanymatterinwhichhehasafinancial
    interest(Hersh,77).However,asSeymourHershhasrevealedinTheNewYorker,
    Perle is also a managing partner in a venturecapital company called Trireme
    PartnersL.P.,whichwasregisteredinNovember,2001,inDelaware.InNovember
    2002,aTriremerepresentativewrotetothenotoriousSaudibornarmsdealerAdnan
    Kashoggi(whowasakeyfigureintheIranContrascandalofthelate1980s),to
    explainthatTriremesmainbusiness

    75

    istoinvestincompaniesdealingintechnology,goods,andservices
    thatareofvaluetohomelandsecurityanddefense.Theletterargued
    thatfearofterrorismwouldincreasethedemandforsuchproductsin
    EuropeandincountrieslikeSaudiArabiaandSingapore.
    The letter mentioned the firm's government connections
    prominently: Three of Trireme's Management Group members
    currentlyadvisetheU.S.SecretaryofDefensebyservingontheU.S.
    DefensePolicyBoard,andoneofTrireme'sprincipals,RichardPerle,
    ischairmanofthatBoard.(Hersh,76)
    In December 2003, Kashoggi arranged a meeting in Paris between two Trireme
    representatives and Saudi industrialist Harb Saleh alZuhair to discuss the
    possibilityofalargeinvestment inTrireme, andonJanuary3,2003,Kashoggi
    arrangedaprivatelunchinMarseillesinthesouthofFrancebetweenPerleandal
    Zuhair. Seymour Hersh writes that Kashoggi and Zuhair told me that they
    understoodthatoneofTriremesobjectiveswastoseekthehelpofinfluentialSaudis
    towinhomelandsecuritycontractswiththeSaudiroyalfamilyforthebusinessesit
    financed.Theprofitsforsuchcontractscouldbesubstantial.SaudiArabiahasspent
    nearly a billion dollars to survey and demarcate its eighthundredandfiftymile
    borderwithYemen,andthesecondstageoftheprocesswillrequirebillionsmore
    (Hersh,79).
    Perleisthusatoneandthesametimeamajorideologueoftotalwarand
    also,inintentionifnotyetinfact,alargescalewarprofiteer.Nobeansthistime:in
    fact,PerlesundiplomaticdetestationoftheSaudigovernmentappearstohaveupset
    hislunchcompanionstotheextentthattheydecidedtoembarrasshimbymakinghis
    Trirememanoeuveringspublic.ItseemsnonethelessthatPerleisgivinganewtwist
    to the arthighly developed already among the members of the Bush gangof
    insidertrading.
    Source:SeymourM.Hersh,AnnalsofNationalSecurity:Lunchwiththe
    Chairman:WhywasRichardPerlemeetingwithAdnanKashoggi?TheNew
    Yorker(March17,2003):7681.

    YifatSusskindofthehumanrightsorganizationMADRErespondsasfollows
    toBushsdeclarationtotheUNthatTheconductoftheIraqiregimeisathreatto
    theauthorityoftheUnitedNationsandathreattopeace.
    HereswhatBushthinksoftheauthorityoftheUnitedNations:Since
    takingoffice,hescrappedmoreinternationaltreatiesandviolatedmoreUN
    conventionsthantherestoftheworldhasin20years.UnderBush,theUShas
    opposedtheKyotoprotocolonglobalwarming,boycottedaconferenceto
    promotethecomprehensive(nuclear)testbantreatyandrippeduptheanti
    ballistic missile treaty. Bush refuses to ratify the UN Convention on the

    76
    RightsoftheChildorsignthetreatytobanlandmines.TheUSwalkedoutof
    the2001UN WorldConferenceAgainstRacismandvirtually ignoredthe
    2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development. And Bush is the only
    PresidentinhistorytounsignaUNtreatytheRomeTreatycreatingthe
    InternationalCriminalCourt.
    Asforbeingathreattopeace,thereslittledoubtthatBushswaron
    terror, whichviolates international law,theUS Constitution, international
    human rights instruments and principles of international cooperation and
    collectivesecurity,isthesinglegreatestthreattopeaceintheworldtoday.
    In light of the grave and gathering danger posed by the Bush
    Administration, we hereby call on the United Nations to declare the
    UnitedStatestobeathreattopeaceunderArticle39oftheUnited
    Nations Charter. The Security Council, acting under Article 7 of the
    Charter,mustcountermandthisthreat.
    IntheeventofaUSvetooftheCouncilsenforcementaction,we
    call on the UN General Assembly to invoke its Uniting for Peace
    Resolution of 1950 and assume the Security Councils mandate of
    enforcinginternationalpeaceandsecurity.
    To quote the president of the United States, Will the United
    Nationsservethepurposeofitsfounding,orwillitbeirrelevant?
    YifatSusskind,MADREFactsheet:analysisofBushsSpeechtoUN,ZNet,
    http://zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=11&ItemID=2359.

    For further reflections ontheroguestate behaviour oftheU.S.,thefollowing


    bookscanbeconsulted:
    Blum,William. KillingHope:USMilitaryandCIAInterventionsSince
    WorldWarII.Boston:CommonCourage,1995.
    . Rogue State: A Guide to the World's Only Superpower. Boston:
    CommonCourage,2000.
    Chomsky,Noam,andEdwardHerman.ThePoliticalEconomyofHuman
    Rights, Volume I: The Washington Connection and Third World
    Fascism.Montral:BlackRoseBooks,1979.
    . The Political Economy of Human Rights, Volume II: After the
    Cataclysm:PostwarIndochinaandtheReconstructionofImperial
    Ideology.Montral:BlackRoseBooks,1979.
    Scowen,Peter.RogueNation:TheAmericatheRestoftheWorldKnows.
    Toronto:McClelland&Stewart,2003.
    Stich,Rodney. DruggingAmerica:ATrojanHorse.Alamo,California:
    DiabloWesternPress,1999.

    77

    8.WarforOil
    This section contains excerpts from texts byMichel Chossudovsky, Robert
    Fisk, John Pilger, Hans von Sponeck, and the U.S, House of Representatives
    CommitteeonInternationalRelations.
    When the Taliban took Kabul in 1996, Washington said nothing. Why?
    BecauseTalibanleaders weresoonontheirwaytoHouston,Texas,tobe
    entertainedbyexecutivesoftheoilcompany,Unocal.
    With secret US government approval, the company offered them a
    generouscutoftheprofitsoftheoilandgaspumpedthroughapipelinethat
    theAmericanswantedtobuildfromSovietcentralAsiathroughAfghanistan.
    AUSdiplomatsaid:TheTalibanwillprobablydevelopliketheSaudis
    did.HeexplainedthatAfghanistanwouldbecomeanAmericanoilcolony,
    there would be huge profits for the West, no democracy and the legal
    persecutionofwomen.Wecanlivewiththat,hesaid.
    Although the deal fell through, it remains an urgent priority of the
    administration of George W. Bush, which is steeped in the oil industry.
    BushsconcealedagendaistoexploittheoilandgasreservesintheCaspian
    basin, the greatest source of untapped fossil fuel on earth and enough,
    accordingtooneestimate,tomeetAmericasvoraciousenergyneedsfora
    generation.OnlyifthepipelinerunsthroughAfghanistancantheAmericans
    hopetocontrolit.
    JohnPilger,ThisWarisaFarce,TheMirror(October29,2001).

    Duringthe31july/1august[2002]hearingsonIraqintheUSSenateForeign
    Relations Committee, the ranking representative of the Republican Party,
    SenatorRichardLugar(RIn)stated:wearegoingtoruntheoilbusiness.
    Wearegoingtorunitwell,wearegoingtomakemoney;anditsgoingto
    helppayfortherehabilitationofIraqbecausethereismoneythere!
    QuotedbyHansvonSponeck,FourQuestions,FourAnswers(European
    Colloquium,Brussels,September25,2002),
    http://www.afsc.org/iraq/guide/4questions.shtm.

    Americaburnsaquarterofalltheoilconsumedbyhumanity.Astudy
    sponsoredbytheUSCouncilonForeignRelationssaysthattheAmerican
    peoplecontinuetodemandplentifulandcheapenergywithoutsacrificeor

    78
    inconvenience. Transport intheUnitedStates aloneburns66percentof
    Americaspetroleum.
    Oneestimateisthattheworldsoilreserveswillbegintodeclinewithin
    fivetotenyearsattherateofabouttwomillionbarrelsaday.IntheMiddle
    East, the only country capable of significantly increasing its production is
    Iraq,oncedescribedbyVicePresidentCheneyasthegreatprize.
    Atpresent,AmericadependsonIraqsneighbourSaudiArabia,notjust
    foroilbutforkeepingthepriceofoildown.However,SaudiArabiaisthe
    homeofalQaeda,andOsamabinLadenand15oftheallegedSeptember11
    hijackers.
    ThegrievanceagainsttheAmericansfortheirimperialinterventionsin
    theMiddleEastissaidtobedeepestinthecountrythatwasinventedby
    BritishimperialismandhassincebeenmaintainedbytheUSasanoilcolony.
    If America installs a colonial regime in Baghdad, certainly its
    dependenceonSaudiArabiawillbedramaticallyeased,anditsgriponthe
    worldsgreatestoilmarketwillbetightened.Theprice,forthepeopleofthe
    region,forAmericansandtherestofus,willbeanenduringturmoilsimilarto
    thatofPalestine,exemplifiedbylastweeksterrorbombingofanIsraelihotel
    inKenya.
    Thisisthehiddenagendaofthewaronterrorismatermthatisno
    more than a euphemism for the Bush administrations exploitation of the
    September11attacksandAmericasacceleratingimperialambitions.Inthe
    past14months,onthepretextoffightingterror,USmilitarybaseshave
    beenestablishedatthegatewaystothegreatestoilandgasfieldsonearth,
    especiallyinCentralAsia,whichisalsocovetedasagreatprize.
    InAfghanistan,thepresident,HamidKarzai,guardedby46American
    specialforcestroops,wasemployedbyasubsidiaryofUnocal,theAmerican
    oil company. The postTaliban US ambassador is a senior executive of
    Unocal,andapipelinetocarrylucrativeoilandgasacrossthecountryfrom
    theCaspianSeawillbebuiltbyUnocal.
    The majority of Bushs cabinet are from the oil industry, which has
    madethemextremelyrich.Bushsfatherisstillaconsultantforthehugeoil
    services company, the Carlyle Group, and his personal clients include the
    family of Osama bin Laden. One of the reasons the Americans attacked
    Afghanistanwasnottoliberatewomenbuttoliberatethepipelinedeal.[.]
    JohnPilger,Lies,DamnedLies,andTerrorWarnings,ZNet(December5,2002),
    http://zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=40&ItemID=2710.

    OnceanAmericanregimeisinstalled inBaghdad,ouroilcompanies will


    haveaccessto112billionbarrelsofoil.Withunprovenreserves,wemight
    actuallyendupcontrollingalmostaquarteroftheworld'stotalreserves.And
    thisforthcomingwarisntaboutoil?

    79
    TheUSDepartmentofEnergyannouncedatthebeginningofthismonth
    thatby2025,USoilimportswillaccountforperhaps70percentoftotalUS
    domesticdemand.(Itwas55percenttwoyearsago.)AsMichaelRennerof
    the Worldwatch Institute put it bleakly this week, US oil deposits are
    increasinglydepleted,andmanyothernonOPECfieldsarebeginningtorun
    dry.ThebulkoffuturesupplieswillhavetocomefromtheGulfregion.[.]
    Some70percentoftheworld'sprovenoilreservesareintheMiddleEast.
    Andthisforthcomingwarisntaboutoil?
    Takealookatthestatisticsontheratioofreservetooilproductionthe
    numberofyearsthatreservesofoilwilllastatcurrentproductionrates
    compiledbyJeremyRifkinin HydrogenEconomy.IntheUS,wheremore
    than60percentoftherecoverableoilhasalreadybeenproduced,theratiois
    just10years,asitisinNorway.InCanada,itis8:1.InIran,itis53:1,in
    SaudiArabia55:1,intheUnitedArabEmirates75:1.InKuwait,it's116:1.
    ButinIraq,its526:1.Andthisforthcomingwarisntaboutoil?
    RobertFisk,ThisLoomingWarIsn'tAboutChemicalWarheadsorHumanRights:
    It'sAboutOil,TheIndependent(January18,2003),
    http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=15&ItemID=2882.

    TheoilpoliticsinvolvedintheAmericanandBritishassaultuponIraqare
    nakedlyobvious.Theconnectionsbetweenthisactofaggressionandtheeconomic
    andgeopoliticalmotivesoftheAmericanledattackonAfghanistan,whichmaybe
    somewhatlessevident,arehelpfullyclarifiedbyMichelChossudovskysanalysisof
    theinformingcontextoftheattackonAfghanistaninchaptersfiveandsixofhisbook
    War and Globalisation: The Truth Behind September 11 (Shanty Bay, Ontario:
    GlobalOutlookTM,2002).ProposingthatTheAngloAmericanaxisindefenceand
    foreignpolicyisthedrivingforcebehindthemilitaryoperationsinCentralAsiaand
    the Middle East, Chossudovsky suggests that The merger [in August 1998] of
    BritishPetroleum(BP)andtheAmericanOilCompany(AMOCO)intotheworld's
    largest oil conglomerate has a direct bearing on the pattern of AngloAmerican
    relationsandthecloserelationshipbetweentheAmericanPresidentandtheBritish
    PrimeMinister(p.64;seepp.8990).
    HenotesthatonMarch19,1999theU.S.CongressadoptedtheSilkRoad
    StrategyAct,whichdefinedAmericasbroadeconomicandstrategicinterestsina
    regionextendingfromtheMediterraneantoCentralAsia (p.66).Thegeopolitical
    thinking underlying this Silk Road Strategy is expounded in documents of the
    CongressionalCommitteeonInternationalRelations.

    Onehundredyearsago,CentralAsiawasthearenaforagreatgameplayedby
    Czarist Russia, Colonial Britain, Napoleon's France, and the Persian and
    OttomanEmpires.[.]Onehundredyearslater,thecollapseoftheSoviet
    Unionhasunleashedanewgreatgame,wheretheinterestsoftheEastIndia

    80
    Trading Company have been replaced by those of Unocal and Total [oil
    companies],andmanyotherorganizationsandfirms.Today[weareseeing]
    theinterestsofanewcontestantinthisnewgreatgame,theUnitedStates.The
    five [former Soviet republics] which make up Central Asia, Kazakhstan,
    Kirghizstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan are anxious to
    establish relations with the United States. Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan
    possesslargereservesofoilandnaturalgas,bothonshoreandoffshorein
    theCaspianSea,whichtheyurgentlyseektoexploit.Uzbekistan[also]hasoil
    andgasreserves.[.]
    Stated U.S. policy goals regarding energy resources in this region
    includefosteringtheindependenceoftheStatesandtheirtiestotheWest;
    breaking Russia's monopoly over oil and gas transport routes; promoting
    Western energy security through diversified suppliers; encouraging the
    construction of eastwest pipelines that do not transit [through] Iran; and
    denyingIrandangerousleverageovertheCentralAsianeconomies.
    [.]Japan,Turkey,Iran,WesternEurope,andChinaareallpursuing
    economicdevelopmentopportunitiesandchallengingRussiandominancein
    the region. It is essential that U.S. policymakers understand the stakes
    involvedinCentralAsiaasweseektocraftapolicythatservestheinterests
    oftheUnitedStatesandU.S.business.
    U.S.Congress,HouseofRepresentatives,SubcommitteeonAsiaandthePacific,
    CommitteeonInternationalRelations,HearingonU.S.InterestsInTheCentral
    AsianRepublics(February12,1998),
    http://commdocs.house.gov/committees/intlrel/hfa48119.000/hfa48119_0f.htm
    (quotedbyChossudovsky,pp.6768).

    ThisSilkRoadStrategyisclearlyaimedbothatunderminingRussiancontrol
    of the Caspian Basin oil and gas reserves and at preventing other competitors
    (amongthemtheFrenchBelgianconglomerateElfTotalFina)fromgainingaccess
    tothem.Onesteptowardsitsimplementationwastakenwhentheheadsofstateof
    Georgia,Ukraine,Uzbekistan,AzerbaijanandMoldovametinWashingtontosign
    GUAAM,aregionalmilitaryallianceunderNATOprotection.Chossudovskywrites
    that GUAAM is dominated by AngloAmerican oil interests, and its formation
    ultimatelypurportstoexcludeRussiafromtheoilandgasdepositsintheCaspian
    area,aswellasisolatingMoscowpolitically(p.66).
    TherelationshipinGUAAMbetweenplannedpipelineroutesanddiplomatic
    militaryalliancesisveryclear.Azerbaijan,governedsincethemilitarycoupof1993
    byaproU.S.regimeledbyformerKGBofficialandCommunistPartypolitburo
    memberPresidentHeydarAliyevichAliyev,signedanagreementin1994withanoil
    consortium ledbyBPAMOCO.This contract, involving thedevelopment ofthe
    CharygoilfieldsnearBaku, providesforAzerioiltobemovedwestbypipeline
    throughGeorgiatotheportofSupsaontheeastcoastoftheBlackSea,andthence
    bytankertothePivdennyterminalnearOdessainUkraine,fromwhereitcanbe

    81
    movedbyapipelinelinkinguptoanexistingpipelinewhichrunsthroughSlovakia,
    Hungary,andtheCzechRepublic.Theentirelengthofthisroute,whichofcourse
    bypassesRussianterritory,isundertheprotectionofNATO(pp.7274).
    Afghanistan isofmajorstrategic importance inrelation tothis SilkRoad
    Strategy.AsChossudovskywrites,
    ItnotonlyborderstheSilkRoadCorridorlinkingtheCaucasusto
    China'sWesternborder,itisalsoatthehuboffivenuclearpowers:
    China,Russia,India,PakistanandKazakhstan.[.]Afghanistanisat
    thestrategiccrossroadsoftheEurasianpipelineandtransportroutes.It
    alsoconstitutesapotentiallandbridgeforthesouthboundoilpipeline
    fromtheformerSovietrepublicofTurkmenistantotheArabianSea
    acrossPakistan,whichhadinitiallybeennegotiatedbyUnocalwith
    theTalibangovernment.(p.69)
    Chossudovsky notes that the Silk Road Strategy Act designates Israel as
    America'spartnerintheSilkRoadcorridor(p.69),andarguesthat
    the successful implementation of the SRS requires the concurrent
    militarizationoftheEurasiancorridorasameansofsecuringcontrol
    overextensiveoilandgasreserves,aswellasprotectingthepipeline
    routesonbehalfoftheAngloAmericanoilcompanies.[.]Under
    theSRSAct,Washingtoncommitsitselftofosteringstabilityinthis
    region,whichisvulnerabletopoliticalandeconomicpressuresfrom
    theSouth,NorthandEast,suggestingthatthethreattostabilityis
    notonlyfromMoscow(totheNorth)butalsofromChina(totheEast)
    andIranandIraq(totheSouth).TheSRSisalsointendedtoprevent
    theformerSovietrepublicsfromdevelopingeconomic,politicaland
    defencetieswithChina,Iran,TurkeyandIraq.(p.71).
    The1991GulfWaradvancedAmericanmilitarygeopoliticalandoilinterests
    inaverysignificantmanner:itpermittedtheU.S.toestablishmilitaryandnaval
    basesintheUnitedArabEmirates,Qatar,Kuwait,andSaudiArabia.Duringthe
    1990s,inpursuitofwhatin1999wasformalizedastheSilkRoadStrategy,theU.S.
    wasabletoexpandthispresenceintheEurasiancorridorbyestablishingmilitary
    linkswiththeGUAAMcountries,andbysecuringpermissiontoconstructairbases
    inTajikistan,Kyrgyzstan,Kazakhstan,andUzbekistan.Sincetheoverthrowofthe
    Taliban regime, these forwardpositions have been supplemented by air bases in
    Afghanistan.ThemilitaryconquestofIraqwillleaveIran,whichfiguredwithIraq
    andNorthKoreainGeorgeBushsinaneaxisofevil,surroundedbycountries
    containinggarrisonsofAmericantroops.
    ForfurtherevidenceofU.S.geopoliticalstrategicthinking,seethearticles
    listedunderOilinIraq,athttp://www.globalpolicy.org/security/oil/irqindx.htm.

    82

    9.TheWaronTerrorism
    This section contains excerpts from writings by Gordon Barthos, Noam
    Chomsky,RobertFisk,AlexJones,MediaLens,JamesPetras,JohnPilger,Milan
    Rai,StephenShalomandMichaelAlbert,andAntoniaZerbisias.

    (a)EthicalironiesoftheWaronTerrorism
    Whatisthenewwaronterrorism?Thegoalofthecivilisedworldhasbeen
    announcedveryclearlyinhighplaces.Wemusteradicatetheevilscourgeof
    terrorism,aplaguespreadbydepravedopponentsofcivilisationitselfina
    returntobarbarisminthemodernage,andsoon.Surelyanobleenterprise!
    Toplacetheenterpriseinproperperspective,weshouldrecognisethat
    theCrusadeisnotnew,contrarytowhatsbeingsaid.Infact,thephrasesjust
    quotedarefromPresidentRonaldReaganandhisSecretaryofState,George
    Shultz, twenty years ago. They came to office at that timeReagan, and
    shortly after, Schultzproclaiming that the struggle against international
    terrorismwouldbethecoreofU.S.foreignpolicy.Andtheyrespondedtothe
    plaguebyorganisingcampaignsofinternationalterrorismofunprecedented
    scaleandviolence,evenleadingtoacondemnationbytheWorldCourtofthe
    UnitedStatesforwhattheCourtcalledtheunlawfuluseofforce,meaning
    international terrorism. This was followed by a U.N. Security Council
    Resolutioncallingonallstatestoobserveinternationallaw,whichtheUnited
    States vetoed. It also voted alone, with one or two client states, against
    successivesimilarU.N.GeneralAssemblyResolutions.
    SotheNewWaronTerrorismis,infact,ledbytheonlystateinthe
    world that has been condemned by the International Court of Justice for
    internationalterrorismandhasvetoedaresolutioncallingonstatestoobserve
    internationallaw.
    TheWorldCourtordertoterminatethecrimeofinternationalterrorism
    andtopaysubstantial reparations wasdismissedwithcontemptacrossthe
    spectrum. The New York Times informed the public that the Court was a
    hostile forum and therefore we need pay no attention to it. Washington
    reacted at once to the Courts orders by escalating the economic and the
    terrorist wars. It also issued orders to the mercenary army attacking from
    Hondurastoattacksofttargetsthosearetheofficialorders:Attacksoft

    83
    targets, undefended civilian targets like health clinics, agricultural
    cooperativesandsoon.[.]
    Prevailing Western attitudes are revealed with great clarity by the
    appointmentofthenewU.N.AmbassadortoleadtodaysNewWaragainst
    Terrorism, John Negroponte. Negropontes record includes his service as
    ProConsulinHondurasinthe1980s,wherehewasthelocalsupervisorofthe
    internationalterroristwarforwhichhisgovernmentwascondemnedbythe
    World Court and the Security Councilirrelevantly of course in a world
    thatsgovernedbytheruleofforce.
    NoamChomsky,September11thandItsAftermath:WhereistheWorldHeading?
    PublicLectureattheMusicAcademy,Chennai(Madras),India,November10,2001,
    http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1824/nc.htm.

    FormerUNweaponsinspectorScottRitterhassuggestedthataUSled
    war onIraq will effectively mean that Osama bin Laden will have won.
    WhateverthefaultsofSaddamHussein,andheisabrutaldictator,hisregime
    isalsosecular.IfSaddamdoesindeedfall,whichBushandBlairwant,itis
    highlylikely that anIslamist regime will takeoverafter UStroops leave,
    whichtheywillsoonerorlater.ThiscouldhaveknockoneffectsonKuwait,
    SaudiArabia,JordanandevenEgypt:TheinvasionofIraqisthequickest
    pathtolosingthewaronterrorandgivinglegitimacytothecriminalwho
    attackedtheUSandtheentirefreedomoftheworldon11September.While
    fewothercommentatorsarepredictingafundamentalistregimeinIraq,many
    informed observers share Mr Ritters belief that al Qaedas political base
    wouldbeenlargedconsiderablybyUS/UKmilitaryaction.
    MilanRai,WarPlanIraq:TenReasonsAgainstWaronIraq(LondonandNew
    York:Verso,2002),p.201.

    There is no war on terrorism. No such war is possible when the


    coalitionwagingitconsistsofsomeoftheleadingterroriststatesinthe
    worldAlgeria,Turkey,Russia,China,IndonesiafallinginwiththeUnited
    States.ThesearchforOsamabinLadeniscircusspectacle.Thegoalisthe
    control,throughvassals,offormerSovietCentralAsia,aregionrichinoiland
    mineralsandofgreatstrategicimportancetocompetingpowers,Russiaand
    China. By February 2002, the United States had established permanent
    militarybasesinalltheCentralAsianrepublics,andinAfghanistan,whose
    postTaliban government is American approved. America will have a
    continuinginterestandpresenceinCentralAsiaofakindthatwecouldnot
    have dreamed of before [September 11], said Secretary of State Colin
    Powell.Thisisjustabeginning.TheultimategoalisafarwiderAmerican
    conquest,militaryandeconomic,thatwasplannedduringtheSecondWorld

    84
    War and which, as VicePresident Cheney says, may not end in our
    lifetimes.
    JohnPilger,TheNewRulersoftheWorld(London:Verso,2002),pp.10405.

    (b)ConsequencesoftheWaronTerrorism
    In [George Orwell's] novel [Nineteen EightyFour], three slogans
    dominatesociety:warispeace,freedomisslaveryandignoranceisstrength.
    Todays slogan, war on terrorism, also reverses meaning. The war is
    terrorism.Themostpotentweaponinthiswarispseudoinformation,different
    onlyinformfromthatOrwelldescribed,consigningtooblivionunacceptable
    truths and historical sense. Dissent is permissible within consensual
    boundaries,reinforcingtheillusionthatinformationandspeecharefree.
    The attacks of September 11, 2001 did not change everything, but
    accelerated thecontinuity ofevents,providinganextraordinary pretextfor
    destroyingsocialdemocracy.TheunderminingoftheBillofRightsinthe
    UnitedStates andthefurtherdismantling oftrial byjuryinBritain anda
    plethoraofrelatedcivilliberties arepartofthereductionofdemocracyto
    electoralritual:thatis,competitionbetweenundistinguishablepartiesforthe
    managementofasingleideologystate.
    JohnPilger,TheNewRulersoftheWorld(London:Verso,2002),pp.12.

    Sofarthewaronterrorismhasbeenamassacre,asinAfghanistanand
    asproposedforIraq,ratherthanafightwithtwoarmedcombatantsbattling
    oneanother.[.]
    Alternatively,thewaronterrorismhasbeenacampaign,notaviolent
    struggle,aimingtoreducecivilliberties,expandarmstradeandproduction,
    andlegitimateassaultsonanytargetsdeemedunfriendly.Inthisregarditis
    liketheearlierColdWar.Theideaistonameanenemy,generatefearofit,
    and then employ that fear and associated anger to justify all kinds of
    government actions that would otherwise be rejectedarms deals, taxes,
    repressivelaws,etc.
    Themassacresandpolicyalterationsthattogetherconstitutethewaron
    terrorism havent been about reducing terrorism, by and large. First, the
    largestnumberofcivilianskilledsince911havebeenAfghanisandIraqis
    (thelatter,victimsofU.S.backedsanctions).Reducingaphenomenon[i.e.
    theterroristkillingofcivilians]rarelyincludesovertlyexpandingit.Second,
    theactionsundertaken,evenintheviewoftheFBI,arenotonlyunlikelyto
    reduceeventhatportionofterrorismthatisdirectedattheUnitedStates.They

    85
    arelikely,instead,tofueltheresentment andgrievances thatleadtosuch
    attacks.
    So rather than a just war, the war on terrorism is a means of
    rationalizing illegitimate interventions abroad and repressive and predatory
    policiesathome,withoutreducingterrorism.
    StephenShalomandMichaelAlbert,InterventioninGeneral:PartAof45
    QuestionsandAnswersRegardingU.S.ForeignPolicy,ZNet(October8,2002),
    http://zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=40&ItemID=2446.

    In totalitarian states, the supreme leader seizes dictatorial powers,


    suspends constitutional guarantees (citing emergency powers),empowers
    the secret police, and handpicks tribunals to arbitrarily arrest, judge, and
    condemn the accused to prison or execution. On November 13 [2001],
    President Bush took the fatal step toward assuming dictatorial powers.
    WithoutconsultingCongress,Bushdecreedanemergencyorder.Theorder
    permits the government to arrest noncitizens who they have reason to
    believeareterroriststobetriedbymilitarytribunal.Thetrialsaresecretand
    theprosecutorsdonothavetopresentevidenceifitisintheinterestsof
    nationalsecurity.
    Thecondemnedcanbeexecutedevenifonethirdofthemilitaryjudges
    disagree.Dictatorialpowerstojailorexecutesuspectswithoutdueprocessis
    theessenceoftotalitarianrulers.
    In midNovember, the Department of Justice refused to disclose the
    identitiesandstatusofmorethan1,100personsarrestedsinceSeptember11.
    As in totalitarian regimes, political prisoners are constantly interrogated
    without lawyers and without charges by the FBI in the hope of forcing
    confessions.
    On October 26 Bush signed the USA/Patriot Act, which vastly
    strengthened thepowersofthepoliceovercivil society. Theextension of
    secretpolicepowerswasapprovedalmostunanimouslybyCongress(mostof
    whosemembersneverreadthelaw).EveryclauseofthislawviolatedtheU.S.
    Constitution.Underthislaw:(a)anyfederallawenforcementagencymay
    secretlyenteranyhomeorbusiness,collectevidence,notinformthecitizenof
    the entry, and then use the evidence (seized or planted) to convict the
    occupant of a crime; (b) any police agency has the power to monitor all
    Internettrafficandemails,interceptcellphoneswithoutwarrantofmillionsof
    suspects;(c)anyFederalpoliceagencycaninvadeanybusinesspremises
    and seize all records on the basis that it is connected to a terrorist
    investigation. Citizens whopublicly protestthesearbitrary, invasivepolice
    actionscanbearrested.
    TheUSA/PatriotAct,likeitstotalitariancounterparts,hasavague,loose
    definitionofterrorismthatallowsittorepressanydissidentorganization
    andprotestactivity.Accordingtosection802oftheAct,terrorismisdefined

    86
    asactivitiesthatinvolveactsdangeroustohumanlifethatareaviolationof
    the criminal laws of the United States [and] appear to be intended to
    intimidateorcoerceacivilianpopulation[or]toinfluencethepolicyofthe
    governmentbyintimidationorcoercion.Anyantiglobalizationprotest,such
    as occurred in Seattle, can now be labeled terrorist, its leaders and
    participantsarrested,theirhomesandofficessearched,documentsseized,and,
    if they are not citizens, shipped to military tribunals. These emergency
    decrees and laws are in place until 2005 and beyond if the investigations
    beganpriortotheterminalyear.
    JamesPetras,SignsofaPoliceStateAreEverywhere,ZMagazine(January2002),
    http://www.zmag.org/Zmag/Articles/jan02petras.htm.

    On February 7, 2003 the Center for Public Integrity, a nonpartisan


    publicinterestthinktankin[Washington]DC,revealedthefulltextofthe
    DomesticSecurityEnhancementAct[orPatriotActII]of2003.Theclassified
    documenthadbeenleakedtothembyanunnamedsourceinsidetheFederal
    government.
    [.]TheintentionsoftheWhiteHouseandSpeaker[Dennis]Hastert
    concerningPatriotActIIappeartobeacarboncopyreplayoftheeventsthat
    ledtotheunprecedentedpassageofthefirstPatriotAct.[.]Thefactthat
    DickCheneypubliclymanagedthesteamrollerpassageofthefirstPatriotAct,
    ensuringthatnoonewasallowedtoreaditandpubliclythreateningmembers
    ofCongressthatiftheydidntvoteinfavorofittheywouldbeblamedforthe
    nextterroristattack,isbytheWhiteHousesowndefinitionterrorism.[.]
    Hereisaquickthumbnailsketchofjustsomeofthedraconianmeasures
    encapsulatedwithinthistyrannicallegislation:
    SECTION 501 (Expatriation of Terrorists) expands the Bush
    administrationsenemycombatantdefinitiontoallAmericancitizenswho
    mayhaveviolatedanyprovisionofofSection802ofthefirstPatriotAct.
    (Section802isthenewdefinitionofdomesticterrorism,andthedefinitionis
    anyactionthatendangershumanlife[or]thatisaviolationofanyFederalor
    Statelaw.)[.]
    SECTION201ofthesecondPatriotActmakesitacriminalactforany
    memberofthegovernmentoranycitizentoreleaseinformationconcerning
    the incarceration or whereabouts of detainees. It also states that law
    enforcementdoesnotevenhavetotellthepresswhomtheyhavearrested
    [].
    SECTION312givesimmunitytolawenforcementengaginginspying
    operations against the American people and would place substantial
    restrictions on court injunctions against Federal violations of civil rights
    acrosstheboard.[.]

    87
    SECTION103allowstheFederalgovernmenttousewartimemartial
    lawpowersdomesticallyandinternationallywithoutCongressdeclaringthata
    stateofwarexists.[.]
    SECTION 109 allows secret star chamber courts to issue contempt
    charges against any individual or corporation who refuses to incriminate
    themselves orothers.Thissectionannihilates thelastvestigesoftheFifth
    Amendment.[.]
    SECTION402isentitledProvidingMaterialSupporttoTerrorism.
    Thesectionreadsthatthereisnorequirementtoshowthattheindividualever
    hadtheintenttoaidterrorists.[.]
    SECTION411expandscrimesthatarepunishablebydeath.Again,they
    pointtoSection802ofthefirstPatriotActandstatethatanyterroristactor
    supportofterroristactscanresultinthedeathpenalty.[.]
    [.]ThesecondPatriotActdwarfsallpolicestatelegislationinmodern
    worldhistory.
    AlexJones,TotalPoliceStateTakeover:TheSecretPatriotActIIDestroysWhatIs
    LeftofAmericanLiberty.ABriefAnalysisoftheDomesticSecurityEnhancement
    Act2003,alsoknownasPatriotActII,Infowars(February10,2003),
    http://www.infowars.com/print_patriotact2_analysis.htm.

    Imagine a society where people can be stripped of their citizenship


    overnight.Orbemadetodisappearintopolicegulagswithouttrace.Where
    verybooktheyreadandpurchasetheymakeisknowntothepowersthatbe.
    Andwheretheycanbeexecutedforprotestingagainstthegoverningregime.
    SaddamHusseinsIraq?Youbet.ButtheUnitedStatesofAmericamay
    alsobecomethiskindofsocietyifU.S.presidentGeorgeBushpresseshis
    waronterrormuchfurther.
    In a commentary for Global Viewpoint/Tribune Media Services
    International this weeknovelist NormanMailer warnedthat a prefascist
    atmospherepervadestheU.S.asitmovesinanimperialdirectionledby
    intrusivegovernment,corporationsandthemilitary.[.]
    TheAmericanCivilLibertiesUniontookoutafullpageadintheNew
    YorkTimesthisweektowarnthatcoreAmericanvaluesareunderattack.
    AleakedcopyofAttorneyGeneralJohnAshcroftsproposedDomestic
    SecurityEnhancementActof2003dubbedthePatriotActIIconfirmsthat
    Washingtonisweighingsweepingnewlawsthatimpingeonlongestablished
    freedoms.IfenactedbyCongress,themeasureswouldletgovernment:
    * Create 15 new death penalties including one that could cover
    protestersengagedincivildisobedience,ifsomeonedies,evenaccidentally,
    duringaprotest.
    *StripAmericansoftheircherishedcitizenshipiftheysupportgroups
    deemedtobeterroristbytheadministrationeveniftheyareunawareof
    thegroupslinkstoterror.

    88
    * Shelter federal agents from prosecution for carrying out unlawful
    surveillance, iftheyareacting onorders fromBushorother highranking
    membersoftheexecutivebranch.ThiswouldhavemadeRichardNixonera
    Watergateprosecutionsimpossible.
    * Permit secret arrests in immigration and other cases where the
    detaineesarenotchargedwithcrimes.
    * Authorize a wider range of home searches and wiretaps without
    warrant.
    Tobefair,theAmericansdonthavealockonunhealthylegislation.
    HereinCanada,federalPrivacyCommissionerGeorgeRadwanskihasbeen
    warningthatsimilarantiterrorlawsassaultourownrights.
    Theres something dreadfullywrongwhendemocratic, opensocieties
    like the United States and Canada feel driven to protect themselves by
    enactinglegislationthatwouldnotbeoutofplaceinBaghdadtoday.
    GordonBarthos,CarryingatorchforLiberty,TorontoStar(February27,2003):
    A24.

    (c)9/11asanopportunityfortheU.S.government:the

    Projectfor
    theNewAmericanCentury(PNAC)Report
    The threat posed by US terrorism to the security of nations and
    individualswasoutlinedinpropheticdetailinadocumentwrittenmorethan
    twoyearsagoanddisclosedonlyrecently.WhatwasneededforAmericato
    dominatemuchofhumanityandtheworldsresources,itsaid,wassome
    catastrophicandcatalysingeventlikeanewPearlHarbor.Theattacksof
    11 September 2001 provided the new Pearl Harbor, described as the
    opportunityofages.Theextremistswhohavesinceexploited11September
    comefromtheeraofRonaldReagan,whenfarrightgroupsandthinktanks
    wereestablishedtoavengetheAmericandefeatinVietnam.Inthe1990s,
    there was an added agenda: to justify the denial of a peace dividend
    following the cold war. The Project for the New American Century was
    formed,alongwiththeAmericanEnterpriseInstitute,theHudsonInstituteand
    othersthathavesincemergedtheambitionsoftheReaganadministrationwith
    thoseofthecurrentBushregime.
    One of George W Bushs thinkers is Richard Perle. I interviewed
    PerlewhenhewasadvisingReagan;andwhenhespokeabouttotalwar,I
    mistakenly dismissed him as mad. He recently used the term again in
    describingAmericaswaronterror.Nostages,hesaid.Thisistotalwar.
    Wearefightingavarietyofenemies.Therearelotsofthemoutthere.Allthis
    talkaboutfirstwearegoingtodoAfghanistan,thenwewilldoIraqthisis

    89
    entirelythewrongwaytogoaboutit.Ifwejustletourvisionoftheworldgo
    forth,andweembraceitentirelyandwedonttrytopiecetogetherclever
    diplomacy, butjustwageatotal warourchildren willsinggreat songs
    aboutusyearsfromnow.
    Perle is one of the founders of the Project for the New American
    Century,thePNAC.OtherfoundersincludeDickCheney,nowvicepresident,
    Donald Rumsfeld, defence secretary, Paul Wolfowitz, deputy defence
    secretary, I. Lewis Libby, Cheneys chief of staff, William J Bennett,
    Reaganseducationsecretary,andZalmayKhalilzad,Bushsambassadorto
    Afghanistan. These are the modern chartists of American terrorism. The
    PNACsseminalreport,RebuildingAmericasDefences:strategy,forcesand
    resourcesforanewcentury,wasablueprint ofAmerican aims inall but
    name.Twoyearsagoitrecommendedanincreaseinarmsspendingby$48bn
    sothatWashingtoncouldfightandwinmultiple,simultaneousmajortheatre
    wars.Thishashappened.ItsaidtheUnitedStatesshoulddevelopbunker
    buster nuclear weapons andmake starwarsanational priority. This is
    happening.Itsaidthat,intheeventofBushtakingpower,Iraqshouldbea
    target.Andsoitis.
    As for Iraqs alleged weapons of mass destruction, these were
    dismissed,insomanywords,asaconvenientexcuse,whichitis.Whilethe
    unresolvedconflictwithIraqprovidestheimmediatejustification,itsays,
    theneedforasubstantialAmericanforcepresenceintheGulftranscendsthe
    issueoftheregimeofSaddamHussein.Howhasthisgrandstrategybeen
    implemented?AseriesofarticlesintheWashingtonPost,coauthoredbyBob
    Woodward of Watergate fame and based on long interviews with senior
    members of the Bush administration, reveals how 11 September was
    manipulated.
    Onthemorningof12September2001,withoutanyevidenceofwhothe
    hijackers were,Rumsfelddemandedthat theUS attack Iraq.Accordingto
    Woodward,RumsfeldtoldacabinetmeetingthatIraqshouldbeaprincipal
    targetofthefirstroundinthewaragainstterrorism.Iraqwastemporarily
    sparedonlybecauseColinPowell,thesecretaryofstate,persuadedBushthat
    publicopinionhastobepreparedbeforeamoveagainstIraqispossible.
    Afghanistanwaschosenasthesofteroption.IfJonathanSteelesestimatein
    theGuardianiscorrect,some20,000peopleinAfghanistanpaidthepriceof
    thatdebatewiththeirlives.
    Timeandagain,11Septemberisdescribedasanopportunity.Inlast
    Aprils NewYorker,theinvestigativereporterNicholasLemannwrotethat
    Bushs most senior adviser, Condoleezza Rice, told him she had called
    togetherseniormembersoftheNationalSecurityCouncilandaskedthemto
    think about how do you capitalise on these opportunities, which she
    comparedwiththoseof1945to1947:thestartofthecoldwar.Since11
    September,Americahasestablishedbasesatthegatewaystoallthemajor
    sourcesoffossilfuels,especiallycentralAsia.TheUnocaloilcompanyisto

    90
    buildapipelineacrossAfghanistan.BushhasscrappedtheKyotoProtocolon
    greenhouse gas emissions, the war crimes provisions of the International
    CriminalCourtandtheantiballisticmissiletreaty.Hehassaidhewilluse
    nuclear weaponsagainst nonnuclearstates ifnecessary.Undercoverof
    propaganda about Iraqs alleged weapons of mass destruction, the Bush
    regime is developing new weapons of mass destruction that undermine
    internationaltreatiesonbiologicalandchemicalwarfare.
    IntheLosAngelesTimes,themilitaryanalystWilliamArkindescribesa
    secretarmysetupbyDonaldRumsfeld,similartothoserunbyRichardNixon
    andHenryKissingerandwhichCongressoutlawed.Thissuperintelligence
    support activity will bring together the CIA and military covert action,
    information warfare, and deception. According to a classified document
    preparedforRumsfeld,theneworganisation,knownbyitsOrwellianmoniker
    as the Proactive Preemptive Operations Group, or P2OG, will provoke
    terrorist attacks which would then require counterattack by the United
    Statesoncountriesharbouringtheterrorists.
    Inotherwords,innocentpeoplewillbekilledbytheUnitedStates.This
    isreminiscentofOperationNorthwoods,theplanputtoPresidentKennedyby
    hismilitarychiefsforaphoneyterroristcampaigncompletewithbombings,
    hijackings,planecrashesanddeadAmericansasjustificationforaninvasion
    ofCuba.Kennedyrejectedit.Hewasassassinatedafewmonthslater.Now
    Rumsfeld has resurrected Northwoods, but with resources undreamt of in
    1963andwithnoglobalrivaltoinvitecaution.Youhavetokeepreminding
    yourself this is not fantasy: that truly dangerous men, such as Perle and
    Rumsfeld and Cheney, have power. The thread running through their
    ruminationsistheimportanceofthemedia:theprioritisedtaskofbringing
    onboardjournalistsofreputetoacceptourposition.
    Ourpositioniscodeforlying.Certainly,asajournalist,Ihavenever
    knowofficiallyingtobemorepervasivethantoday.Wemaylaughatthe
    vacuitiesinTonyBlairsIraqdossierandJackStrawsineptliethatIraqhas
    developedanuclearbomb(whichhisminionsrushedtoexplain).Butthe
    moreinsidiouslies,justifyinganunprovokedattackonIraqandlinkingitto
    wouldbeterroristswhoaresaidtolurkineveryTubestation,areroutinely
    channelledasnews.Theyarenotnews;theyareblackpropaganda.
    JohnPilger,AmericasBidforGlobalDominance,TheNewStatesman(December
    12,2002),http://zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=15&ItemID=2744 .

    ForfurtherinformationabouttheProjectforaNewAmericanCentury,see
    thefollowing:
    Abrams,Elliott(and24others).StatementofPrinciples,PNAC(June3,
    1997),
    http://www.newamericancentury.org/statementofprinciples.htm.

    91
    Donnelly,Thomas,DonaldKaganandGarySchmitt.Rebuilding
    America'sDefenses:Strategy,ForcesandResourcesforaNew
    Century,PNAC(September2000),
    http://www.newamericancentury.org/RebuildingAmericasDefenses
    .pdf.
    Kristol,William(and40others).LettertoPresidentBushontheWaron
    Terrorism,PNAC(September20,2001),
    http://www.newamericancentury.org/Bushletter.htm.
    (and32others).LettertoPresidentBushonIsrael,Arafatandthe
    WaronTerrorism,PNAC(April3,2002),
    http://www.newamericancentury.org/Bushletter040302.htm.
    Escobar,Pepe.Thiswarisbroughttoyouby,AsiaTimesOnline
    (March20,2003),
    http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/EC20Ak07.html.
    Johnson,ChalmersJohnson.IraqWars,www.tomdispatch.com,also
    availableatZNet,http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?
    SectionID=15&ItemID=2869.
    Shavit,Ari.Whitemansburden,Haaretz(April6,2003),
    http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jtml?
    itemNo=280279&
    %20contrassID=2&subContrassID=14&sbSubContrassID=0&listS
    rc=Y.

    (d)Manipulationsofpublicfear
    OnNovember7,thedaybeforetheUnitedNationsSecurityCouncil
    votedonaresolutionthatmadeanAmericanandBritishattackonIraqmore
    than likely, Downing Street began issuing warnings of imminent terrorist
    threatsagainsttheUnitedKingdom.
    CrossChannelferries,theLondonUndergroundandmajorpublicevents
    wereallsaidtobetargeted.
    The anonymous Government sources described emergency security
    measures that included a rapid reaction force of army reservists and a
    squadronoffighterjetsonconstantstandby.Planswerebeingdrawnupto
    evacuatemajorcitiesanddealwithlargenumbersofcontaminatedcorpses.
    Policesniperswerebeingtrainedtokillsuicidebombersandantiradiation
    pillswerebeingdistributedtohospitals.ByNovember11,TonyBlairhimself
    wastellingtheBritishpublictobeonguardagainstanattackthatcouldlead
    tomaximumcarnage.

    92
    Curiously,thenational stateofalertforalikelyattack,colourcoded
    amber,whichsuchagravewarningwouldrequire,wasneveractivated.It
    remainsonblackspecial,whichisjustabovenormal.Why?
    That was more than two weeks ago, and urgent questions remain
    unanswered.Nowhealthserviceteamsaretohavesmallpoxvaccinationsto
    meet the threat of a germ warfare attack; and the Foreign Office has
    producedaremarkablevideosuggestingthatBritainisabouttoattackIraq
    because of its concern for that countrys human rights record. (This must
    meanBritainwillsoonattackothercountriesbecauseoftheirhumanrights
    records,suchasChina,RussiaandtheUnitedStates.)[.]
    Whereistheevidence,anyevidence,foranationalalertthatborders
    onsuchorchestratedhysteria?Andwhatexplainsitsuncannytimingwiththe
    latestAmericanandBritishmachinationsattheUNonIraq?
    Lyingasgovernmentstrategyisknownasblackpropaganda.[.]Since
    September11,2001,everyattemptbyblackpropagandistsinWhitehalland
    WashingtontojustifyanunprovokedattackonIraqbylinkingtheregimein
    BaghdadwithalQaedaterrorismhasfailed.
    First, there was the charge that Iraq was responsible for last years
    anthraxscareintheUnitedStates,thenitwasclaimedthatMohammedAtta,
    one of the alleged September 11 hijackers, had made contact with Iraqi
    intelligenceinPrague.Bothclaimshavebeenprovenfalse,alongwithstories
    plantedinnewspapersbyAmericanintelligencethatIraqhasbeentrainingal
    Qaedaterroristsatasecretbase.
    JohnPilger,Lies,DamnedLies,andTerrorWarnings,ZNet(December5,2002),
    http://zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=40&ItemID=2710.

    In the United States, the Bush administration is busy terrorising


    Americans. There will be nuclear attacks, bombs in highrise apartment
    blocks, on the Brooklyn bridge, men with exploding beltsnote how
    carefullytheruthlessPalestinianwaragainstIsraelicolonisationoftheWest
    BankisbeingstrappedtoAmericaseverweirderwaronterrorandyet
    more aircraft suiciders. If you read the words of President Bush, Vice
    President Dick Cheney and the ridiculous national security adviser,
    CondoleezzaRice,overthepastthreedays,youllfindtheyveissuedmore
    threatsagainstAmericansthanMrbinLaden.
    But lets get back to the point. The growing evidence that Israels
    policiesareAmericaspoliciesintheMiddleEastor,moreaccurately,vice
    versaisnowbeingplayedoutforrealinstatementsfromCongressandon
    Americantelevision.First,wehavethechairmanoftheUSSenateForeign
    Relations Committee announcing that Hizbollahthe Lebanese guerrilla
    forcethatdroveIsraelsdemoralisedarmyoutofLebanonintheyear2000
    is planning attacks in the US. After that, we had an American television
    networkrevealingthatHizbollah,HamasandalQaidaMrbinLadens

    93
    organisationhaveheldasecretmeetinginLebanontoplotattacksonthe
    US.
    American journalists insist on quoting sources but there was, of
    course,nosourcingforthisbalderdash,whichisnowrepeatedadnauseamin
    the American media. Then take the Syrian Accountability Act that was
    introducedintotheUSSenatebyIsraelsfriendson18April.Thisincludes
    the falsity uttered earlier by Israels Foreign Minister, Shimon Peres, that
    Iranian Revolutionary Guards operate freely on the southern Lebanon
    border.NowtherehaventbeenIranianRevolutionaryGuardsinLebanon
    letalonethesouthofthecountryfor18years.Sowhyisthislierepeatedyet
    again?
    Iranisunderthreat.Lebanonisunderthreat.Syriaisunderthreatits
    terrorismstatushasbeenheightenedbytheStateDepartmentandsois
    Iraq.ButArielSharon,theIsraeliPrimeMinisterheldpersonallyresponsible
    by Israels own inquiry for the Sabra and Shatila massacre of 1,700
    PalestiniansinBeirutin1982,isaccordingtoMrBushamanofpeace.
    RobertFisk,AFirestormisComing,TheIndependent(May25,2002).

    With the convenient discovery of a deadly poison in Wood Green,


    London,TonyBlairhasagainmadeexplicitreferencetotherelatedthreats
    of international terrorism and Iraqthreats that will sooner or later, Blair
    insists,uniteagainstus.
    Asanyonewhohasglancedevenbrieflyatthesubjectknows,thereis
    noevidencewhateverthatIraqhasanylinkswithinternationalterrorism
    Saddams sworn enemy, al Qaeda, includeddespite probably the most
    intense and sophisticated monitoring, investigation and surveillance
    programme in all history. Attempts were made to establish a link in the
    immediateaftermathofSeptember11butweresoonabandoned,evenbythe
    Bush administration. Nevertheless, with Blair giving the green light, ITN
    [Independent Television News] is happy to suggest a connection, moving
    fromthereportofthediscoveryofthepoison,ricin,toIraqthus:
    Wellwhilethehuntforthericingoeson,sodothepreparationsforwar
    more military hardware was committed today to targeting Iraq. (Mark
    Austin,ITV6:30News,January8,2003)
    MediaLens,TheGreatBetrayal,ZNet(January10,2003),
    http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=21&ItemID=2849.

    LastFridaysNationalPostfrontcouldnthavebeenmorechillingifit
    hadrunanudefamilyphotoofMichaelJackson.
    Triple Crisis Fuels Alarm in U.S. dominated a page filled with
    horrifyingheadlinessuchasNorthKorea:Itsnuclearmissilescouldreach

    94
    theWestCoast,Spieswarnofwaveofassassins,Bushadministration
    fearsSaddaminnightmarealliancewithalQaeda,and,spookiestofall,
    Thefourhorsemenaresaddlingup.
    WhilewehereintheBigPinkarentbeingurgedtostockuponduct
    tapehardlynecessarysincethecountryseemstobeactuallyheldtogether
    bythestuffwecantavoidthespilloverscaremongeringfromsouthofthe
    border.[.]
    Are you ready? demanded ABC, introducing a Martha Stewart
    momentwhichshowedhowtoconvertalaundryroomintoafalloutshelter
    withtapeandtarps.
    Interestingly, they never discuss how this doityourself homeland
    improvement schemecompares withthegabillions oftaxdollars worthof
    militaryandmaterielthatwillraindownonthepeopleofIraq.
    IfseeingaTerrorAlert:HighsignonyourTVscreenmakesyoufeel
    edgy,imaginewhatitsliketobelivinginBaghdadorBasra,wrotemedia
    critic Norman Solomon (www.fair.org) last Thursday. For people in the
    UnitedStates,theoddsthatterrorismwillstrikeclosetohomeareverysmall
    comparedtothechancesthatanyparticularIraqifamilywillbedecimated
    beforesummer.
    AntoniaZerbisias,Whynetworksarefuellingthefear,TorontoStar(February16,
    2003):D10.

    10.TheattackonAfghanistananditsconsequences
    ThissectioncontainsexcerptsfromwritingsbyRobertFisk,MarcHerold,
    JamesIngalls,MicheleLandsberg,GeovParrish,MilanRai,StephenShalomand
    MichaelAbert,StefanSteinberg,AlanThompson,andThomasWalkom.

    (a)Wasthewarlegitimate?
    Didnt the U.S. in fact get Security Council endorsement for its war in
    Afghanistan?
    No.TheUnitedStateswenttotheSecurityCounciltwiceandbothtimesthe
    resolution that emerged did not authorize U.S. military action against
    Afghanistan.Resolution1368didcallonallStatestoworktogetherurgently
    tobringtojusticetheperpetrators,organizersandsponsorsoftheseterrorist

    95
    attacks,butthisisafarcryfromauthorizingtheUnitedStatestodecide
    unilaterallytowageawaragainstAfghanistan.
    StephenShalomandMichaelAlbert,9/11andAfghanistan:PartBof45Questions
    onU.S.ForeignPolicy,ZNet(Oct.9,2002),
    http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=40&ItemID=2447.

    The argument for making war on Afghanistan rested on two


    propositions:firstly,thattherewasincontrovertibleevidencethattheatrocities
    of11SeptemberwereorganisedbyOsamabinLaden;and,secondly,that
    therewasnononviolentmeansofapprehendingthealQaedaleader.Infact,
    thesetwopropositionsdonotamounttoajustificationfortheuseofforce,but
    letuskeeptoestablishmentassumptions.
    On4October2001,twointerestingthingshappenedinBritain.Prime
    MinisterTonyBlairproducedadossierofevidenceagainstMrbinLaden,
    which was rubbished throughout the British mediadescribed by the
    Independent on Sunday, for example, as conjecture, supposition and
    assertionsoffact.Hardlyincontrovertibleevidence.
    Alsoon4October2001,theDailyTelegraphcarriedastoryunderthe
    heading Pakistanhalts secret planforbinLaden trial. According tothis
    report,leadersoftwoPakistaniIslamicparties,theJamaatiIslamiandthe
    JamaatUlemaeIslam,negotiatedMrbinLadensextraditiontoPakistanto
    standtrialforthe11Septemberattacks.TheagreementwasthatMrbinLaden
    would be held under house arrest in Peshawar, and tried before an
    internationaltribunalunderIslamicsharialaw.[.]
    Onekeyelementoftheagreementwasthattheinternationaltribunal
    coulddecideeithertotryhimonthespotortohandMrbinLadenoverto
    America.ThiswasanewdeparturefortheTaliban.Upuntil1October,the
    Taliban had been offering to negotiate bin Ladens extradition to a third
    country,buthadrefusedtocontemplatethepossibilityofhandinghimoverto
    Washington.
    Whydidtheextraditionbreakdown?Itwasnotblockedbytheheadof
    theTaliban,MullahOmar.AccordingtotheDailyTelegraph,theextradition
    was vetoed by Pakistans military leader, President Musharraf. The
    ostensiblestumblingblockwasthathe[Musharraf]couldnotguaranteebin
    Ladenssafety.Thisisratherimplausible.
    It is intriguing to read that the US Ambassador to Pakistan, Wendy
    Chamberlain,wasnotifiedinadvanceofthemissiontomeetMullahOmar.
    During the war on Afghanistan, a US official was quoted as saying that
    castingtheobjectivestoonarrowlywouldriskaprematurecollapseofthe
    internationaleffortifbysomeluckychanceMrbinLadenwerecaptured.It
    isatleastconceivableinmyviewitislikelythatitwasaUSvetothat
    killedtheextraditionagreement,justasUShostilityhadrebuffedprevious
    extraditionoffersfromtheTaliban.

    96

    MilanRai, WarPlanIraq:TenReasonsAgainstWaronIraq (LondonandNew


    York:Verso,2002),pp.3738.

    (b)HasthewarbeenasuccessinU.S.terms?
    The links of [Afghan president] Hamid Karzai to the UNOCAL
    company (andthe C.I.A., Britains M16and the U.S. Armys 5th Special
    Forces Group) are well knownKarzai having served as a well paid
    consultanttoUNOCALwhenitwasnegotiatingwiththeTaliban.Theman
    whospottedKarzaisleadershippotentialandrecruitedhimtothefold
    was then RAND program director, Zalmay Khalilzad. The Bush
    Administrations special envoy to Afghanistan, appointed nine days after
    Karzai took office, is Zalmay Khalilzad, graduate of the University of
    Chicago,anotherUNOCALconsultantandwhosefatherwasanaidetoKing
    Zahir, who actually drew up the risk analysis of the proposed $2 billion
    CentGaspipelinefromTurkmenistanthroughwesternAfghanistantoMultan,
    Pakistan.
    KhalilzadwasundersecretaryofdefenseforGeorgeBushI,duringthe
    waragainstIraq.AfterastintattheRandCorporationthinktank,heheaded
    the BushCheney transition team for the Defense Department and advised
    Donald Rumsfeld. But he was not rewarded with any promotions. The
    requiredSenateconfirmationwouldraiseextremelyuncomfortablequestions
    abouthisroleasUNOCALadviserandonetimestaunchTalibandefender.
    He was assigned instead to the Security Councilno Senate confirmation
    requiredwherehereportstoNationalSecurityAdviserCondoleezzaRice
    (whowasaboardmemberofanotheroilgiant,Chevron).
    The Enron Corporation, a major political contributor to the Bush
    campaign, conducted the feasibility study for the CentGas deal. Bush
    Administration support for the Taliban into August 2001 was guided by
    energyconsiderations,inparticularwrestingcontrolfromRussiaofthestill
    largely unexploited oil and gas reserves of Central Asia. Russia has kept
    CentralAsiasvastoilandgasreservesbottledupbyrestrictingaccessto
    export pipelinesall of which run over Russian territory. The famous
    UNOCALpipelinewouldgodirectlyfromTurkmenistanthroughAfghanistan
    intoPakistansolongasanAfghanGovernmentwhetherTalibanorKarzai
    canguaranteeitssafety.
    MarcHerold,Karzai&AssociatesTrickleDownReconstruction, Cursor (May
    12,2002),http://www.cursor.org/stories/karzai.htm.

    97
    TheAmericanstakethemshackledandhoodedontotransportaircraftto
    Kandahar.Theyliveinpensofeightor10men.Theyaregivencotswith
    blankets but no privacy. They are forced to urinate and defecate publicly
    becausetheAmericanswanttowatchtheirprisonersatalltimes.
    ButUnitedStatesforceshavenotonlyfailedtohuntdownOsamabin
    LadenwhiletheyarepreparingforwarinIraq:theyarefindingitalmost
    impossible to crackthe alQaida networkbecause BinLadens menhave
    resortedtoprimitivemeansofcommunicationthatcutindividualmembersof
    alQaidaofffromallinformation.
    Thisextraordinary,grimscenariocomesfromanAmericanintelligence
    officerjustbackfromAfghanistanwhoagreedtotalktoTheIndependent
    andtosupplyhisownphotographsofprisonersonconditionofanonymity.
    [.]
    Theofficer,whospentatleastsixmonthsinAfghanistanthisyear,was
    scathing in his denunciation of General Abdul Rashid Dostam, the Uzbek
    warlordimplicatedinthesuffocationofuptoathousandTalibanprisonersin
    containertrucks.DostamistotallyculpableandtheUSbelieveshesguilty
    buthesourguyandsowewontsayso.
    RobertFisk,WithRunnersandWhispers,AlQaidaOutfoxesUSForces,The
    Independent(December6,2002),http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?
    SectionID=40&ItemID=2712.

    Today[October2002],manyoftheforwardbasesoftheU.S.Special
    Forcesareunderintermittentguerillaattack.Rockets,selfpropelledgrenades,
    mortarfirehitthebasesatnight.U.S.troopsscamperouttosearchinvainfor
    theattackers.[.]
    [.] Just as in the Soviet case, it took a year for the mujahideen
    oppositiontoregroupandcoalescethisisnowhappeningastheforcesof
    Hekmatyar,AlQaedaandtheTalibancooperate.Thegradualstrengthening
    ofthemujahideenwasfollowedbyattacksontheSovietsAfghanallies,who
    wereeasiertargets.TheseattacksthenforcedtheSovietstotakechargeof
    securityoperationsthemselves,underminingtheillusionofpartnershipwitha
    local regime. Precisely this has been happening as the U.S. provides
    protectiontoKarzaiandasitmovesthe82ndAirborneDivisionunitsinto
    southeasternandwesternAfghanistan.[.]
    Yet,foralltheirnumericalandtechnologicaladvantages,theAmericans
    and their allies have not figured out how to confront a foe so skilled at
    concealment.TheSovietsreferredtotheirAfghanadversariesas dukhi,the
    Russianwordforghosts,invisiblespiritswhoattackedoutofnowhereonlyto
    disappearintonowhere.RussianobservershavenotedthattheUnitedStatesis
    atroughlythesamestagewheretheywerein1981,supportingaweakcentral
    government,facedwithabubblingopposition.

    98
    Ambushes,hitandrun,risingpopularresentment,coalescingopposition
    forcesandaninvisibleenemyallpointtoaVietnamredux.
    MarcHerold,U.S.SpecialForcesinAfghanistan:VietnamRedux,Cursor
    (October31,2002),http://www.cursor.org/stories/vietnam_redux.htm.

    TheChrtiengovernmenthascommittedCanadianinfantrytoAfghanistanon
    whatissupposedtobeapeacekeepingmission.
    Almost precisely at the moment when it seemed obvious that Prime
    Minister Jean Chrtiens government had long since decided to throw its
    supportbehindaU.S.ledinvasionofIraqwithorwithoutaUnitedNations
    SecurityCouncilresolutionexplicitlyauthorizinganattackthegovernment
    revealedplanstocommitupto2,000troopstoAfghanistanthissummerona
    oneyearpeacekeepingmission.
    With war on everyones mind this week, Defence Minister John
    McCallum praised the new mission as befitting of Canadian tradition.
    McCallumsaidCanadawillsendabrigadeheadquartersandbattlegroupto
    Kabul for two sixmonth rotations to jointly command the international
    stabilizationforceinAfghanistan.
    AftermakingtheannouncementintheHouseofCommonsinresponse
    to a staged question from a Liberal backbench MPMcCallum met with
    reporterstodefendthenewpeacekeepingendeavour.
    Thisisatoughanddangerousmission,butitsalsointhepeacekeeping
    traditionofCanadians,McCallumsaid.
    AlanThompson,Calltoarms:CanadawilltakepartinaU.S.ledwaronIraqjust
    notwithgroundforces.ThedecisiontoreturntoAfghanistanaspeacekeepersisseen
    asacompromise,TorontoStar(February15,2003):E1.

    McCallumscodedlanguage(atoughanddangerousmission),coupledwiththe
    factthataseniorCanadianarmyofficerresignedinprotestoverthedecisiontosend
    troopstoAfghanistan,suggeststhattheCanadiangovernmentmustbeawarethat
    CanadiantroopspostedtoKabulwillbeengagedinacounterinsurgencyoperation
    ratherthaninpeacekeepingwork.TheCanadianpublic,however,hasbeengivenno
    notionofthesituationintowhichourtroopswillbeinserted.Evenajournalistas
    habitually astute as Thomas Walkom anticipates that their function will be a
    janitorialone.
    []Afghanistanisnowasideshow.U.N.peacekeeping,whichinthe
    timeofPearsonwasdesignedtocoolinternationalhotspots,hasbecomea
    cleanup.CanadiantroopsgoingintoKabulwillactasakindofjanitorial
    service,tosortoutthemessleftafterthewaragainstAfghanistansformer
    Talibangovernment.

    99
    ThomasWalkom,Astheoldworldorderpassesaway,Canadacanonlysitand
    watch,TorontoStar(February15,2003):E5,http://www.thestar.com.

    (c)Whathaveitspoliticalandhumanitarianconsequencesbeen?
    One year after the Americans promised a return to democracy, most of
    Afghanistan remains carved up among a collection of opulently thievish
    warlords,manyofthemthesamecommandersofarmiesofmassrape,torture,
    andmurderfromwhomthecountryfledtotheTalibanasanantidotesixyears
    ago.
    GeovParrish,MatchGame,ZNet(November16,2002),
    http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=40&ItemID=2633.

    Astowhathappenedregardingstarvation,wehavevirtuallynoidea.Noone
    intheWestwiththemeanstocountcarestodoso.Thereissomesuggestive
    data, however, that indicates that there were serious humanitarian
    consequences.MedicineWithoutFrontiersreportedadoublingofthechild
    mortalityratebetweenAugust2001andJanuary2002(seetheMSFreport,
    2/21/02[]).MichaelFinkelreportedintheNewYorkTimesMagazinethat
    inthesingleAfghandistrictofAbdulganoutof15,000residents,thetotal
    numberofdeadduringthewarhastorunintothe1,000s.Anestimateinthe
    Guardian (JonathanSteele, 5/20/02)puts theindirect deathtoll at20,000.
    NakamuraTetsu,aJapanesedoctorwhoheadsanNGOthathasworkedin
    Afghanistan and Pakistan for 19 years, has said that tens of thousands
    starvedtodeathasaresultofthebombing[].
    StephenShalomandMichaelAlbert,9/11andAfghanistan:PartBof45Questions
    onU.S.ForeignPolicy,ZNet(October9,2002),
    http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=40&ItemID=2447.

    PresidentBushassertedinhisStateoftheUnionspeechinJanuary
    [2002]thattheUnitedStateshadsavedapeoplefromstarvation,andfreeda
    country from brutal oppression, but the facts show that the US bombing
    actually exacerbated many of the dangers that existed in preSept 11
    Afghanistan. On September 6 2001, the World Food Program described
    widespread prefamine conditions. They were just about to start a new
    projecttoprovidefoodaidto5.5millionpeople,but[ten]dayslater(Sept
    [16]),allaidconvoyswerestoppedattheborderstopreventterroristsfrom
    escaping. This putatriskthemillions ofAfghanswhowereindangerof
    starvation,sincerefugeescouldnolongerleave,andaidcouldntgetin.A

    100
    monthafterBushsStateoftheUnionannouncementthatwesavedapeople
    fromstarvation,DoctorswithoutBordersreported(21Feb)thatThefood
    crisis innorthernAfghanistanisreaching alarming proportions.Mortality
    ratesinoneNortherncamphavedoubledsinceAugust.Thatis,twiceasmany
    peoplearedyingperdaynowcomparedtobeforetheUSbombing.
    ThereliefagencyCAREhasjustissuedapolicybrief(endofSeptember
    2002)entitled,RebuildingAfghanistan:Alittlelesstalk,alotmoreaction,
    in which they complain that promises [to rebuild the country] now look
    increasinglysuspect.Thisiswhatiscallednationbuilding.Reconstruction
    needsinAfghanistanare,accordingtothereport,significantlyhigherthan
    in Rwanda, Bosnia, Kosovo,or East Timor, where international donations
    averaged$250perpersonperyear.
    Andyet,inAfghanistanonly$75hasbeenpledgedperpersonfor2002,
    and$42perpersonperyearoverthenextfiveyears.CAREestimatesthat
    Afghanistanneedsatleast$10billionoverthenext5yearstorebuild,which
    isnotatallforthcoming.
    Over$10billionhasbeenspentonAfghanistansinceOctober72001,
    mostlybytheUSgovernment;84%ofitwasspenttobombthecountryandto
    financeantiTalibanfighters.PartoftheUSplanincludedaregimechange
    shifting the balance of power away from the Taliban and towards the
    Northern Alliance. That meant paying warlords $100,000 each and
    supplyingthemwithtruckloadsofweapons.Wewerereachingouttoevery
    commander that we could, an intelligence official told the Wall Street
    Journal (15 Apr 02). Presently the warlords that we supported are the
    greatestthreatstostabilityinAfghanistan,accordingtoCARE.[.]
    TheUnitedStateshaseliminatedtheTaliban,butwhatisinitsplace?
    The president Hamid Karzai has little popular support. He relies on the
    backingoftheUS(evenhisbodyguardsaremostlyUSSpecialOperations
    soldiers)andisatthemercyofvariouswarlords,alsobackedbytheUS.Peter
    SingeroftheBrookingsInstitutioncallshimbasicallythemayorofKabul
    duringdaylighthours.SotheUShaseliminatedonesourceofinstabilityin
    Afghanistan,andreplaceditwithanother,whichit(partially)controls.The
    prospectsarejustasbleakforIraq,iftheUSdecidestoengageinthekindof
    regimechangeandnationbuildingitimplementedinAfghanistan.
    JamesIngalls,Afghanistan:TheFirstPuppetRegimeinthePostSept11World
    (TalkgivenattheAfghanWomensMissionConference,October30,2002),ZNet,
    http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=49&ItemID=2565.[Date
    ofborderclosingcorrected.]

    RememberAfghanistan?U.S.PresidentGeorgeBushwasgoingtogoin
    there,bombtheTalibanoutofexistence,catchOsamabinLaden,installa
    brandnewdemocracyandmakesurethatalltheboysandgirlscouldgoto
    school.

    101
    Notonlythat:ByroutingtheTaliban,Bushcouldenjoytherarepleasure
    ofdrapinghimselfinthesilkenmantleofafighterforwomensrights.During
    hispostwarJanuary,2002stateoftheunionspeech,heintroducedleading
    AfghanfeministandcabinetministerDr.SimaSamar(Today,womenare
    free,hesaid)andbaskedintheapplauseofCongress.Ifyoudliketocheck
    upontheprogressofthosegrandpromises,youcandosotonight[March2,
    2003]when ThePassionateEye (CBCNewsworldat10p.m.)shows The
    DaughtersofAfghanistan,anewdocumentaryfeaturingjournalistandactivist
    SallyArmstrong,whohasvisitedthatcountrydozensoftimessinceshebegan
    crusading[sic]forAfghanwomensrightsin1996.
    ThestateofAfghanistanisespeciallyrelevantrightnowthoughlittle
    reportedbecausethechaosandmiserytheregiveusaglimpseofjusthow
    difficultitistoreformacountrybymeansofaerialbombardment.Armstrong
    saysthatonlyabout30percentofAfghangirlsattendschooltoday,dueto
    lack of resources and a Talibanlike fundamentalist grip on the country
    outsidethecapital.Thewarlordsarestillrunningthecountry,andtheirruleis
    cruel,violentanddeeplymisogynist.OutsideofKabul,girlsandwomenare
    stilljailedfortryingtoescapeforcedmarriages.Theyareforcedtowearthe
    burqa, attacked by fanatic vice squads, and even seized and subjected to
    demeaninggynecologicalchastityexamsifcaughtanywherenearaman.
    Schoolsarefirebombed;warlordstroopsrapewithimpunity.
    Dr.Samar,soadmiredbyPresidentBush,wasforcedoutofgovernment
    byavicioushokedupfundamentalistplotameresixmonthsafterbecoming
    deputyprimeminister.Reducedtoahumanrightscommissioner,sheisleft
    withoutprotectionorfundsbyanindifferentU.S.[.]
    TheUnitedStateshasutterlyfailedtokeepitspromisestoAfghanistan,
    and especially its promises to reinstate democracy (as though democracy
    could ever be imposed by outsiders, from aboveas it were). Its worth
    watchingthiscompellingdocumentary,justtotastethecourageandresilience
    ofthewomen,andthedepthoftheirbetrayalbyAmericanpower.
    TheWashingtonPostsaysthatAmericanhamburgerjointsarespringing
    upeverywhereinKabul.TheremightbepostwarhamburgersinBaghdad
    too,buttherewillbenofastfoodversionofdemocracy.
    MicheleLandsberg,AfghanistandocumentaryexposesBushspromises,Toronto
    Star(March2,2003),http://www.thestar.com.

    MarcHeroldoftheUniversityofNewHampshirehasstudiedindetailthe
    U.S.bombingofAfghanistananditshumanitarianandpoliticalconsequences.His
    essaysonthesubjectincludethefollowing:
    MarcHerold,AnAverageDay:65AfghanCiviliansKilledbyU.S.
    BombsonDecember20th,Cursor(December29,2001),
    http://www.cursor.org/stories/ontarget.htm.

    102
    ,ADossieronCivilianVictimsofUnitedStates;AerialBombingof
    Afghanistan:AComprehensiveAccounting[revised],Cursor
    (March2002),http://www.cursor.org/stories/civilian_deaths.htm.
    ,KarzaiandAssociatesTrickleDownReconstruction,Cursor(May
    12,2002),http://www.cursor.org/stories/karzai.htm.
    ,TheBombingofAfghanistanasReflectionof9/11andDifferent
    ValuationsofLife,Cursor(September11,2002),
    http://www.cursor.org/stories/heroldon911.htm.

    (d)WarcrimescommittedagainstTalibanprisonersofwar
    TheUnitedStatesisallegedtohavebeenimplicatedinatleasttwolarge
    scalemassacresofprisonersofwarinNovember2001.Afterthesurrenderofthe
    TalibanforcesinKunduzinlateNovember,theAfghaniTalibanwerereleased,but
    between 400 and 800 foreignborn troops (Pakistanis, Uzbeks, Chechens, and
    Arabs), who had apparently believed they would also be released after their
    surrender,weretruckedtotheQalaiiJanghifortressontheoutskirtsofMazari
    Sharif, which the Northern Alliance warlord General Dostum was using as his
    headquarters.OnthenightofNovember24,severalprisonerscommittedsuicidewith
    concealedhandgrenades(oneoftheexplosionsalsokillingtwoofDostum'smen).
    OnNovember25,NorthernAlliancetroopstiedthehandsofsome250prisoners
    behindtheirbacks,andtwoAmericanCIAagentsbegantointerrogatethem.These
    actionssparkedoffarevoltoftheprisoners,whoappeartohavethoughttheywere
    abouttobeexecuted.Intheensuingfighting,whichinvolvedheavyU.S.bombingof
    the fortress and the use of U.S. and British special forces soldiers, most of the
    Talibansoldierswerekilled.Allwhoescapedfromthefortresswereshot,andan
    AssociatedPressphotographerstatedthatupto50ofthecorpseshesawhadtheir
    handsbound.Atotalof86Talibansurvivedthemassacrebyhidingintunnelsunder
    thefort.
    Shortlyafter the massacreatQalaiiJanghi,afurther 3,000ofthe8,000
    Taliban troops who had surrendered at Kunduz were locked into closed and
    unventilatedcontainers andtakenbytrucktoaprisoncompoundinShibarghan;
    accordingtothedrivers,150to160ofthe200300prisonersineachcontainerdied
    in transit. Witnesses claim that an American officer gave orders to fire into the
    containers,andthatsurvivorsweretorturedandsummarilyexecutedbyAmerican
    troops.Theprisonerswerethendumpedinthedesert,wherewithsomethirtytoforty
    Americansoldierslookingon,thosestillalivewereshot.InJune2002,theIrish
    directorJamieDoransfilmMassacreinMazar,whichdocumentsthesecrimes,was
    showninBerlintomembersoftheGermanparliament,andinStrasbourgtodeputies
    andmembersofthepressattheEuropeanParliament.Thisfilmarousedwidespread
    callsinEuropeforaninvestigationofwarcrimes;intheUnitedStates,newsofits
    existencewassuppressedbythecorporatemedia.

    103

    Doransnewfilmincludesinterviewswitheyewitnessestotortureand
    theslaughterofsome3,000POWs.Italsocontainsfootageofthedesertscene
    where the alleged massacre took place. Skulls, clothing and limbs still
    protrudefromthemoundofsand,morethansixmonthsaftertheevent.
    ThefilmhasreceivedwidespreadcoverageintheEuropeanpress,with
    articles featuredinsomeofthemainFrenchandGermannewspapers (Le
    Monde, Suddeutsche Zeitung, Die Welt). Jamie Doran has also given
    interviewstotwoofthemainGermantelevisioncompanies.
    WhilethedocumentaryhasbecomeamajornewsstoryinEurope,ithas
    been virtually blacked out by the American media. The UPI released a
    dispatchonthescreeningslastweek,yettheexistenceofthefilmhasnoteven
    beenreportedbysuchleadingnewspapersasthe NewYorkTimes,the Los
    AngelesTimes andthe WashingtonPost.ThefilmanditsallegationsofUS
    warcrimes havebeensimilarly suppressedbythetelevisionnetworksand
    cablenewschannels.
    StefanSteinberg,AfghanwardocumentarychargesUSwithmasskillingsof
    POWs,WorldSocialistWebSite(June17,2002),
    http://www.wsws.org/articles/2002/jun2002/afghj17.shtml.

    TheaccountprovidedaboveofallegedwarcrimesagainstTalibanprisoners
    ofwarisbaseduponSteinberg'sarticle,anduponthefollowingarticles:
    White,Jerry.AfterUSmassacreofTalibanPOWs:thestenchofdeath
    andmoremedialies,WorldSocialistWebSite(November29,
    2001),http://www.wsws.org/articles/2001/nov2001/massn29.shtml.
    .MoreevidenceofUSwarcrimesinAfghanistan:TalibanPOWs
    suffocatedinsidecargocontainers,WorldSocialistWebSite
    (December13,2001),
    http://www.wsws.org/articles/2001/des2001/powsd13.shtml.
    WSWSEditorialBoard,TheGenevaConventionandtheUSmassacreof
    POWsinAfghanistan,WorldSocialistWebSite(December7,
    2001),http://www.wsws.org/articles/2001/dec2001/powsd07.shtml.

    11.WarcrimesinPalestine

    104
    ThissectioncontainsexcerptsfromwritingsbyNoamChomskyandMichael
    Albert,PepeEscobar,KristenEss,RobertFisk,AmiraHass,JustinHuggler,John
    Pilger,MitchellPlitnick,TanyaReinhart,andNormanSolomon.
    ItisbynomeansobvioustomostNorthAmericanswhatdirectconnections
    theremightbebetweentheAmericanledattackonIraqandtheongoingviolence
    inflictedbytheIsraeligovernmentuponthePalestinianpopulationoftheterritories
    which Israel has occupied, in defiance of international law and of repeated UN
    SecurityCouncilresolutions,since1967.
    Sincethe1960s,IsraelhasbeenusedbytheUnitedStatesasasurrogate,a
    means of indirectly exercising a destabilizing American power over potentially
    hostileArabstateswhicharealsoanessentialsourceofoil.Israelisclearlyakey
    U.S.ally:ithasformanyyearsbeentheprimaryrecipientofU.S.militaryaid(tothe
    tuneofwellover$3billioneveryyear);itspoliciesofsettlementandethniccleansing
    intheoccupiedterritorieshavealsoreceivedsteadyU.S.diplomaticandfinancial
    support. Israel has in turn provided open and covert assistance to American
    geopolitical goalsinAfrica andinCentralandSouthAmericaas wellasinthe
    MiddleEast,andhasalongrecordofhostilitieswithIraq.
    However, the direct connection between the crises in Iraq and Palestine
    arisesoutofthefactthat,intheirpresentforms,bothcrisesareaconsequenceofa
    singlepolicyvisionenunciatedandnowappliedbytherightwingideologueswhoin
    1997formedtheProjectfortheNewAmericanCentury(seesection9[c]abovefor
    informationaboutthePNACandwhoarenowineffectivecontrolofU.S.foreign
    policy. (The members of the PNAC group include Vice President Dick Cheney,
    DefenseSecretaryDonaldRumsfeld,DeputySecretaryofDefensePaulWolfowitz,
    andRichardPerle,whowasrecentlyobligedbychargesofconflictofinterestto
    resignhispositionofchairmanoftheDefensePolicyBoard,butremainsaprominent
    spokesmanfortheBushregime.)
    TheroleofthePNACgroupinformulatingaMiddleEastpolicyinwhichthe
    continuing ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians and the destruction of Saddam
    Husseins regime inIraqare directly linked is analyzed byPepe Escobar inthe
    followingexcerptsfromanimportantarticlepublishedinAsiaTimesonMarch20,
    2003.

    ItsnosurprisethatBush,onFebruary26[2003],chosetounveilhis
    visionofanewMiddleEasternorderattheAmericanEnterpriseInstitute
    (AEI),arightwingWashingtonthinktank.ThePNACsofficeisnowhere
    else than on the 5th floor of the AEI Building on 17th St, in downtown
    Washington. The AEI is the key node of a collection of neoconservative
    foreignpolicyexpertsandscholars,themostinfluentialofwhomaremembers
    ofthePNAC.
    TheAEIisintimatelylinkedtotheLikudPartyinIsraelwhichforall
    practical purposes has a deep impact on American foreign policy in the

    105
    Middle East, thanks to the AEIs influence. In this mutuallybeneficial
    environment,AEIstalwartsareknownasLikudniks.Itsnosurprise,then,
    howunparalleledistheAEIsintellectualIslamophobia.[.]
    TheAEIsforeignpolicyagendaispresidedoverbynoneotherthan
    RichardPerle.AsPerleisalongtimefriendandadvisortoRumsfeld,hewas
    rewardedwiththepostofchairmanofthePentagonsDefensePolicyBoard:
    its30oddveryinfluentialmembersincludeformernationalsecurityadvisers,
    secretaries ofdefenseandheadsoftheCentralIntelligenceAgency(CIA).
    PerleisalsoaveryclosefriendofPentagonnumbertwoWolfowitz,since
    theywerestudentsattheUniversityofChicagointhelate1960s.Perlenow
    reportstoWolfowitz.
    OnSeptember20,2001,Perlewentonoverdrive,fullymobilizingthe
    DefensePolicyBoardtoforgealinkbetweenSaddamandalQuaeda.The
    PNACsentanopenlettertoBushdetailinghowawaronterrorismshouldbe
    conducted.ThelettersaysthatSaddamhastogoevenifevidencedoesnot
    link him to the attack. The letter lists other policies that later were
    implementedlikethegiganticincreaseofthedefensebudgetandthetotal
    isolationofthePalestinaianAuthority(PA),aswellasothersthatmaysoon
    follow,likestrikingHezbollahinLebanonandyettobeformulatedattacks
    againstIranandespeciallySyriaiftheydonotstopsupportforHezbollah.
    The Bush administration strategy in the past few months of totally
    isolatingthePAsYasserArafatandallowingIsraelipremierArielSharonto
    refuseasmuchasahandshake,wasformulatedbythePNAC.AnotherPNAC
    letter states that Israels fightisourfightforreasonsbothmoral and
    strategic,weneedtostandfirmwithIsraelinitsfightagainstterrorism.The
    PNACdetestedtheCampDavidaccordsbetweenIsraelandthePalestinians.
    ForthePNAC,asimmering,undeclaredstateofwaragainstPalestine,Iraq,
    Syria,LebanonandIranisamatterofpolicy.
    Perle,aformerassistantsecretaryofdefenseforinternationalsecurity
    affairsunderReagan,isalsoamemberoftheboardoftheJerusalemPost.He
    wroteachapterIraq: SaddamUnboundin PresentDangers,aPNAC
    book. He is very close to ultrahawk Douglas Feith, who was his special
    counselunderReaganandisnowassistantsecretaryofdefenseforpolicy(one
    of the Pentagons four most senior posts) and also a partner in a small
    WashingtonlawfirmthatrepresentsIsraelisuppliersofmunitions seeking
    deals withAmericanweaponsmanufacturers.Itwasthanks toPerlewho
    personallydefendedhiscandidatetoRumsfeldthatFeithgothiscurrentjob.
    Hewasoneofthekeypeopleresponsibleforstrategicplanninginthewar
    againsttheTalibanandisalsoheavilyinvolvedinplanningthewaragainst
    Iraq.
    DavidWurmser,formerheadofMiddleEasternprojectsattheAEI,is
    nowspecialassistanttoPNACfounderJohnBolton,theundersecretaryof
    stateforarmscontrolandafierceenemyofmultilateralism.Wurmserwrote
    Tyrannys Ally: Americas failure to defeat Saddam Hussein, a book

    106
    published by the AEI. The forward is by none other than Perle. Meyrav
    Wurmser,Davidswife,isacofounderoftheMiddleEastMediaResearch
    Institute.
    InJuly1996,Perle,FeithandtheWurmsercouplewrotethenotorious
    paperforanIsraelithinktankchartingaroadmapforLikudsuperhawkand
    thenincomingIsraeliprimeministerBenjaminBibiNetanyahu.Thepaper
    iscalledACleanBreak:ANewStrategyforSecuringtheRealm.Perle,
    FeithandtheWurmserstellBibithatIsraelmustshelvetheOsloAccords,the
    socalled peace process, the concept of land for peace, go for it and
    permanentlyannextheentireWestBankandtheGazaStrip.Thepaperalso
    recommends that Israelmustinsistonthe elimination ofSaddam,andthe
    restorationoftheHashemitemonarchyinBaghdad.Thiswouldbethefirst
    dominotofall,andthenregimechangewouldfollowinSyria,Lebanon,Iran
    andSaudiArabia.This1996blueprintisnothingelsethanArielSharons
    currentagendainaction.InNovemberlastyear,Sharontookthelibertyto
    slightly modify the domino sequence by growling on the record that Iran
    shouldbethenextafterIraq.
    BushsspeechonFebruary26[2003]attheAEIclaimedthatthereal
    reasonforawaragainstIraqistobringdemocracy[.].TheAEIandthe
    PNACshapedthenowofficialBushpolicyofintroducingdemocracyby
    bombingIraqandthensuccessfullytransformingthelivesofmillionsof
    peoplethroughouttheMiddleEast,inthewordsofAEIscholarMichael
    Ledeen.AthisAEIspeech,Bushdidnothingelsebutparrottheidea.
    PepeEscobar,Thiswarisbroughttoyouby,AsiaTimesOnline(March20,
    2003),http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/EC20Ak07.html.

    80percentofthePalestinianskilledinrecentmonthsbytheIsraeliDefense
    Force during curfew enforcement were children, according to an October
    reportfromtheIsraelihumanrightsgroupBTselem.Twelvepeopleunderthe
    ageof16hadbeenkilled,withdozensmorewoundedbyIsraeligunfirein
    occupied areas, during a period of four months. None of those killed
    endangeredthelivesofsoldiers,BTselemsaid.
    NormanSolomon,DecodingSomeTopBuzzwords,ZNet(December13,2002),
    http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=21&ItemID=2746.

    Thereareabout9,000PalestinianpoliticalprisonersinIsraelijails.Last
    nightIsraelisoldiersabducted14more.SinceSharonwasreelectedIsraeli
    soldiershavekilled28Palestinians.Thisisjustinthepasteightdays.Inthe
    lasttwomonthsIsraelisoldiershavemurdered72Palestinians.Thismeans
    thattheIsraelimilitarykillsfourPalestiniansaday.[.]

    107
    Myphonerangallnight.[.]Friendsarecallingfromthehospitalin
    GazawhereIlive,tellingmemoreaboutthedevastationthere.Theother
    nightIsraelisoldiersshottwonursesinAlAwdaHospital[].Friendsare
    calling from Rafah, more houses are demolished, the Israelis wont stop
    shooting.Twomorekidsaredead.Myfriendsinthewatermunicipalitytell
    methatmorepumpstationsaredestroyedandmorewellsarecontaminated.
    JustinRafahitsat60percentwithoutwater.
    Thisisethniccleansingandinallcasesofethniccleansingagreatdeal
    ofeffortgoesintomakingthepublicthinkthosebeingcleansedarebad,are
    evil,deserveit,areterrorists.IsawthelittleboywhomIsraelisoldiersshotin
    oneofthecamps.Heisonpermanentcrutches,nomorethan50pounds.He
    and his friend threw stones at a heavily armoured Israeli tank. He is
    permanentlymaimed,hisfriendisdead.Thekidsinthecampdonthave
    schoolagaintoday. Only50percentoftheentirelastyearwasnotunder
    curfewinthisarea.
    KristenEss,OccupiedPalestineReport,ZNet(February8,2003),
    http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=22&ItemID=3004.

    A senior officer was asked last week if he thought the IDF [Israel
    DefenceForce]couldpreventaprovocationbysupportersofthetransfer
    ideainthearmyandamongthesettlersoftheWestBank,andfoilanyattempt
    atamassexpulsionofPalestinians.[.]
    Theofficeradmittedhehaddoubtswhetherthearmycould,orwould
    eventry,topreventsuchanexpulsion.
    Thearmyfailedwhenitdidnotpreventthesettlersfromsabotagingthe
    Palestinian olive harvest in the West Bank, or prevent the settlers from
    stealingtheolives.Thestatefailed,becauseasfarasweknow,thosesettlers
    whodidsabotagetheoliveharvesthavenotbeendealtwith,althoughtheir
    identitiesareknowntotheauthorities.[.]
    Every day between five and twenty Palestinians are arrested in the
    territories. Every few days the IDF invades some place and demolishes
    something. Every other day, in addition to armed Palestinians, and
    Palestinians plotting terror attacks being killed, Palestinian civilians are
    accidentallykilled,includingchildrenandtheelderly.[.]
    Therearecheckpointswithsoldierswhoscoldtheelderlyandtheyoung
    ordeliberatelydelaythemfornoreason;thetravelrestrictions;theirongates
    thatturnvillagesandtownsintodetentioncenters;thesummonstotheShin
    Bet,whichtriestorecruitcollaboratorsandgetinformationaboutaneighbor
    orcousin;thecurfewsandthechildrenlockedupathome;theroadsthatthe
    IDFbulldozerscrushandcrumble;thehousesthataredemolishedbecausea
    terroristlivedinthem;thetoolanddieshopsthataredestroyed;thewaterand
    electricitygridsthataredamagedduringraids;thepavingofanotherroadfor

    108
    Jewsonly;theteargasgrenadesatrioters;thedestructionofmorefarmland
    undertanktreads.
    AmiraHass,TerrorasaNaturalPhenomenon,Haaretz(January15,2003),
    http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=22&ItemID=2871.

    Thequestionhungovertheconcrete rubbleandtwisted ironsupport


    rods,theruinedbuildingswherePalestinianssaidthreeyoungmenwerekilled
    whentheIsraeliarmydemolishedthemthisweek.
    IstheIsraelimilitarytakingadvantageofatimewhentheworldisnot
    payingattentiontowhatisgoingonhere,whenmediacoverageisfocusingon
    Iraq,tostepupitscampaignintheoccupiedterritories?
    Inthepastweek,whiletheworldspressfocusedontheUNsecurity
    councilandBaghdad,theviolencehassuddenlysurged.Insixdays,atleast
    30PalestinianshavebeenkilledinaseriesofIsraelioperations,chieflyinthe
    GazaStripandtheWestBankcityofNablus.
    The dead have been a combination of unarmed civilians, armed
    militants, members of the legitimate Palestinian security forces and one a
    medictryingtoreachasickpatient.
    JustinHuggler,BodiesPilingUpinGazaandtheApartheidWallinBethlehem,
    TheIndependent(February22,2003),
    http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=22&ItemID=3103.

    Whenwereadaboutpoliticalassassinationsandmurderofciviliansby
    Israelihelicopters,weshouldunderstand,asthevictimsdo,thattheseareU.S.
    helicopterswithIsraelipilots,providedinthefullknowledgethatthatishow
    theyaregoingtobeused.Thepointgeneralizes,andextendstothediplomatic
    arenaaswell.Togiveoneexample,considertheFourthGenevaConvention,
    established immediately after World War II to formally criminalize Nazi
    atrocities.TheU.S.isamongtheHighContractingPartiesthatareboundby
    solemntreatyobligationstoenforcetheConvention.ApartfromtheU.S.and
    Israel,theworldhasrepeatedlyinsistedthattheConventionappliestothe
    territoriesthatIsraeloccupieswithU.S.support.Thesameconclusionhas
    been forcefully enunciated by the ICRC, which has the responsibility to
    overseeapplicationoftheConvention.ThegovernmentofSwitzerlandisthe
    responsible state authority. In that capacity, it called a conference on the
    matterforDecember5[2001].TheconferencewasboycottedbytheU.S.and
    Israel,andmoresurprisinglyAustralia,underU.S.pressure,accordingto
    theAustralianpress.Thereportontheconferenceinthe LondonFinancial
    TimesopenedbystatingthatTheEuropeanUnions15memberstateswere
    among 114 countries that yesterday agreed an unprecedented declaration
    reaffirmingtheillegalityofJewishsettlementsintheoccupiedterritoriesand

    109
    callingonIsraeltorespectinternationalhumanitarianlaw.Adatabasesearch
    thenextdayfoundnoreportsintheU.S.media[].
    NoamChomskyandMichaelAlbert,ExtendingU.S.DominanceByAnyMeans
    Possible,ZNet(January2,2002),
    http://www.zmag.org/Zmag/articles/jano2albertchomsky.htm.

    NoamChomskyhascommentedelsewhereontheblatantillegalitiesoftheIsraeli
    occupationoftheWestBankandtheGazastrip,fromtheearlyperiodfollowingthe
    1967warthroughtotheOslopeaceprocess.
    TheplanforthePalestiniansundermilitaryoccupationwasdescribedfrankly
    tohiscabinetcolleagues byMosheDayan,oneoftheLaborleadersmore
    sympathetictothePalestinianplight.Israelshouldmakeitclearthatwehave
    nosolution,youshallcontinuetolivelikedogs,andwhoeverwishesmay
    leave, and we will see where this process leads. Following that
    recommendation,theguidingprincipleoftheoccupationhasbeenincessant
    anddegradinghumiliation,alongwithtorture,terror,destructionofproperty,
    displacementandsettlement,andtakeoverofbasisresources,cruciallywater.
    [.]
    ThegoaloftheOsloprocesswasaccuratelydescribedin1998byIsraeli
    academicShlomoBenAmijustbeforehejoinedtheBarakgovernment,going
    ontobecomeBarakschiefnegotiatoratCampDavidinsummer2000.Ben
    Amiobservedthatinpractice,theOsloagreementswerefoundedonaneo
    colonialistbasis,onalifeofdependenceofoneontheotherforever.With
    thesegoals,theClintonRabinPeresagreementsweredesignedtoimposeon
    thePalestiniansalmosttotaldependenceonIsrael,creatinganextended
    colonial situation, which is expected to be the permanent basis for a
    situationofdependence.ThefunctionofthePalestinianAuthority(PA)was
    tocontrolthedomesticpopulationoftheIsraelirunneocolonialdependency.
    Thatisthewaytheprocessunfolded,stepbystep,includingtheCampDavid
    suggestions.TheClintonBarakstand(leftvagueandambiguous)washailed
    here[intheU.S.]asremarkableandmagnanimous,butalookatthefacts
    made it clear that it wasas commonly described in Israela Bantustan
    proposal;thatispresumablythereasonwhymapswerecarefullyavoidedin
    theUSmainstream.ItistruethatClintonBarakadvancedafewstepstowards
    aBantustanstylesettlementofthekindthatSouthAfricainstitutedinthe
    darkestdaysofApartheid.JustpriortoCampDavid,WestBankPalestinians
    wereconfinedtoover200scatteredareas,andClintonBarakdidproposean
    improvement:consolidationtothreecantons,underIsraelicontrol,virtually
    separatedfromoneanotherandfromthefourthcanton,asmallareaofeast
    Jerusalem, from the center of Palestinian life and communications in the
    region. And of course separated from Gaza, where the outcome was left
    unclear.

    110
    Butnowthatplanhasapparentlybeenshelvedinfavorofdemolitionof
    thePA.ThatmeansdestructionoftheinstitutionsofthepotentialBantustan
    [].TheprominentIsraelischolarZeevSternhellwritesthatthegovernment
    isnolongerashamedtospeakofwarwhenwhattheyarereallyengagedinis
    colonialpolicing,whichrecallsthetakeoverbythewhitepoliceofthepoor
    neighborhoodsoftheblacksinSouthAfricaduringtheapartheidera.This
    newpolicyisaregressionbelowtheBantustanmodelofSouthAfrica40
    yearsagotowhichClintonRabinPeresBarakandtheirassociatesaspiredin
    theOslopeaceprocess.
    NoamChomskyandMichaelAlbert,InterviewwithChomsky,ZMagazine/Znet
    (April3,2002).

    IsraelisaskingtheUnitedStatesfor$8bn(5bn)inloanguarantees
    andhassenttoWashingtononeoftheformerarmyofficersimplicatedinthe
    1982SabraandChatilamassacreofPalestiniancivilianstopersuadetheBush
    administrationtograntthemoney.
    Amos Yaron, who is now director general of the Israeli Ministry of
    Defence,wasthemilitarycommanderinBeirutwhenLebanesePhalangist
    militiamenenteredtherefugeecampsandslaughteredupto1,700Palestinian
    refugees.Heorderedflarestobedroppedoverthecamps,attherequestofthe
    Phalange, and Israeli soldiers blocked the exits to prevent civilians from
    leavingthearea..Israelispleadingforthemoneyalongwithanadditional
    $4bninmilitaryaidonthegroundsthataUSinvasionofIraqwillprovoke
    furtherattacksagainstIsrael.
    RobertFisk,IsraeliatUSLoanTalksIsImplicatedInMassacre,TheIndependent
    (January13,2003),http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticled.cfm?
    SectionID=22&ItemID=2857.

    Ibelievethatevenmuchbeforeitspresentatrocities,Israelhasfollowed
    the SouthAfrican Apartheid model. Behind the smoke screen of the Oslo
    "Peace process", Israel has been pushing the Palestinians in the occupied
    territories intosmaller andsmaller isolatedenclavesa direct copyofthe
    Bantustansmodel.UnlikeSouthAfrica,however,Israelhasmanagedsofarto
    sell its policy as a big compromise for peace. Aided by a battalion of
    cooperating'peacecamp'intellectuals,theymanagedtoconvincetheworld
    thatitispossibletoestablishaPalestinianstatewithoutlandreserves,without
    water,withoutaglimpseofachanceofeconomicindependence,inisolated
    ghettossurroundedbyfences,settlements,bypassroadsandIsraeliarmyposts
    avirtualstatewhichservesonepurpose:separation(Apartheid).
    ButwhatIsraelisdoingunderSharonfarexceedsthecrimesofSouth
    Africa's white regime. It has been taking the form of systematic ethnic
    cleansing, which South Africa never attempted. Since April last year

    111
    (followingtheJenin"operation")wearewitnessingthedailyinvisiblekilling
    ofthesickandwoundedbeingdeprivedofmedicalcare,theweakwhocannot
    survive in the new poverty conditions, and thosewho are boundto reach
    starvation.
    SincetheUSisbackingIsraelandtheEuropeangovernmentsaresilent,
    itisthemoralrightanddutyofthepeopleoftheworldtodowhateverthey
    canontheirowntostopIsraelandsavethePalestinians.
    TanyaReinhart(ProfessorofLinguistics,TelAvivUniversity),AcademicBoycott:
    InSupportofParisVI(February4.2003),
    http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=22&ItemID=2961.

    The Palestinian writer Ghada Karmi has described a deep and


    unconscious racism [that] imbues every aspect of western conduct toward
    Iraq.Shewrote:IrecallthatasimilarcultureprevailedintheUKduringthe
    1956Suezcrisisandthe1967ArabIsraeliwar,whenNasserwasthearch
    villainandallArabswerecrudelytargeted.Today,inBritain,suchovertanti
    Arabnessisunacceptable,soittakessubtlerforms.Saddambashing,asport
    officiallysanctionedsince1991,hasmadehimtheperfectsurrogateforanti
    Arababuse.
    []veiledracism[has]propel[led]everywesternattackonArabs,from
    Churchill'spreferencein1921forusingpoisongasonuncivilisedtribesto
    theuseofdepleteduraniuminthe1991Gulfslaughter.Thisracismapplies,
    quintessentially, to [Ghada Karmis] homeland, Palestine. While the Iraq
    pantomime plays,America's proxy, Israel, has begun the next stage of its
    historicethniccleansingofPalestinians.On21January,thetownofNaziat
    IzainthenorthernWestBankwasinvadedbyaforceofarmouredpersonnel
    carriers, tanks and 60ton, Americanmade Israeli bulldozers. Sixtythree
    shopsweredemolished,alongwithcountlesshomesandolivegroves.Little
    ofthiswasreportedoutsidetheArabworld.SomepartsoftheWestBank
    havebeenundercurfewforatotalof214days.Wholevillages areunder
    housearrest.Peoplecannotgetmedicalcare;ambulanceshavebeenprevented
    fromreachinghospitals;womenhavelosttheirnewbornbabiesinagonyand
    poolsofbloodatmilitarycheckpoints.Freshwaterispermanentlyscarce,and
    food;insomeareas,morethanhalfthechildrenareseriouslyundernourished.
    Oneimageunforgettabletomeisthesightofchildren'skitesflyingfromthe
    windowsandyardsoftheirprisonhomes.
    Thenthereistheslaughter.DuringthemonthofNovember,morethan
    50 Palestinian civilians were killed by the Israelisa record by one
    calculation.Theseincludeda95yearoldwoman,14youngchildrenanda
    BritishUNworker,shotinthebackbyanIsraelisniper.Humanrightsgroups
    say the deaths occurred mostly in circumstances in which there was no
    exchange of gunfire. The Israelis have killed 16 Palestinians within 49
    hours,saidDrMustafaBarghoutiinRamallahon27January.Thats an

    112
    averageofonePalestinianeverythreehours.Thesilenceaboutthisissimply
    unconscionable.
    While Blair damns Iraq for the chemical weapons that a swarm of
    inspectorscannotfind,hehasquietlyapprovedthesaleofchemicalweapons
    toIsrael,aterroristandroguestatebyanydictionarymeaningofthosewords.
    WhileheaccusesIraqofdefyingtheUnitedNations,heissilentaboutthe64
    UNresolutionsIsraelhasignoredaworldrecord.
    The Israeli terrorists, who subjugate and brutalise a whole nation,
    demolishing homes and shops, expelling and killing and systematically
    torturing (Amnesty) day after day, are not mentioned in the Observer
    editorial[ofJanuary19,2003,inwhichthatnewspaperannounceditssupport
    foranattackonIraq].Nodecisiveaction(theObserver'swords)isrequired
    againsttheprimafaciewarcriminalsArielSharonandGeneralShaulMofaz,
    who, along with their predecessors, have caused a degree of suffering of
    whichSaddamHusseinandalQaedacanonlydream.Thereisnosuggestion
    thattheBritishforceheadingfortheMiddleEastshouldinterveneinthe
    republicoffearthatIsraelhascreatedinPalestineindefianceoftheworld,
    and displace them. There is not a word about the weapons of mass
    destructionthatSharonrepeatedlyflaunts(theArabsmayhavetheoil,but
    wehavethematches).
    TomostpeopleinEurope,andacrosstheworld,thesedoublestandards
    offendcommondecency.
    JohnPilger,BetrayalofaNobleLegacy,ZNet(February1,2003),
    http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=11&ItemID=2943.

    Theonlyroadtoadecentfutureforeveryoneintheregionispavedwiththe
    recognition that their futureis one.Israeli leaders mustrecognize that the
    occupationhasnotonlyspilledariverofblood,themajorityofitPalestinian;
    hasnotonlydestroyedwhatwasleftofPalestinianinfrastructure,andmany
    Palestinian homes and families; it has also done enormous damage to the
    IsraelieconomyandtheIsraelisocialfabric.ItisIsrael,astheoccupier,that
    mustrecognizethattheonlypeacefulandjustfutureisonewheretheyare
    livingwiththePalestinians,aspartoftheMiddleEast,asaneighboramong
    equals,ratherthanasadominatingforceandmilitary basefortheUnited
    States.AnditisIsraelthatmustrealizethattheonlywaytostarttowardthat
    futureistoendtheoccupation.
    MitchellPlitnick,ScandalousDiversions,JewishVoiceforPeaceNewsletter
    (January14,2003),http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?
    SectionID=22&ItemID=2865.

    113

    12.LargerContextsoftheAttackonIraq:SomeRecent
    Studies
    Thetitleslistedherecanserveasareminderthatthemonstrouseventsthat
    arenowunderwaycryoutforformsofhistoricalexplanationthatcanbebothalert
    topatternsofculturalandmaterialcausationandalso,inthedeepestsense,ethically
    responsible.
    Ali,Tariq.TheClashofFundamentalisms:Crusades,Jihadsand
    Modernity.London:Verso,2002.
    Arnove,Anthony,ed.IraqUnderSiege:TheDeadlyImpactofSanctions
    andWar.2nded.,London:Pluto,2003.
    Brenner,Robert.TheContinuingCollapseoftheUSEconomy.London
    ReviewofBooks,vol.25,no.3(February6,2003):1823.
    Chomsky,Noam.ClassWarfare:NoamChomskyinConversation,1992
    1996.InterviewedbyDavidBarsamian.Vancouver:NewStar
    Books,1997.
    .911.NewYork:SevenStoriesPress,2001.
    .UnderstandingPower:TheIndispensableChomsky.Ed.PeterR.
    MitchellandJohnSchoeffel.NewYork:TheNewPress,2002.
    .PowerandTerror:Post9/11TalksandInterviews.Ed.John
    JunkermanandTakeiMasakazu.NewYork:SevenStoriesPress,
    Tokyo:LittleMore,2003.
    Chossudovsky,Michel.WarandGlobalisation:TheTruthBehind
    September11.ShantyBay,Ontario:GlobalOutlookTM,2002.
    Cockburn,Andrew,andPatrickCockburn.OutoftheAshes:The
    ResurrectionofSaddamHussein.1999;rpt.NewYork:
    HarperPerennial,2000.
    .SaddamHussein:AnAmericanObsession.London:Verso,2002.
    Dyer,Gwynne.IgnorantArmies:SlidingintoWarinIraq.Toronto:
    McClelland&Stewart,2003.
    Fisk,Robert.Tiredofbeingliedto.TheIndependent(February15,
    2003),http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?
    SectionID=51&ItemID=3502.
    Hiro,Dilip.Iraq:IntheEyeoftheStorm.NewYork:Thunder'sMouth
    Press/NationBooks,2002.
    McMurtry,John.TheCancerStageofCapitalism.London:PlutoPress,
    1999.
    .ValueWars:TheGlobalMarketVersustheLifeEconomy.London:
    PlutoPress,2002.
    Miller,MarkCrispin.TheBushDyslexicon:ObservationsonaNational
    Disorder.NewYork:Norton,2002.

    114
    Mokhiber,Russell,andRobertWeissman.Corporations,War,You.
    ZNet(February7,2003),
    http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?
    SectionID=40&ItemID=2992.
    Monbiot,George.Toomuchofagoodthing:UnderlyingtheUSdriveto
    warisathirsttoopenupnewopportunitiesforsurpluscapital.The
    Guardian(February18,2003):17.
    .LeftBehindtoStarve:AhumanitariandisasterisengulfingAfricaas
    cashispouredintothewarwithIraqanditsaftermath.ZNet
    (March18,2003),http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?
    SectionID=15&ItemID=3259.
    Nitzan,Jonathan,andShimsonBichler.TheGlobalPoliticalEconomyof
    Israel.London:PlutoPress,2002.
    Parenti,Michael.AmericaBesieged.SanFrancisco:CityLightsBooks,
    1998.
    Petras,James,andHenryVeltmayer.GlobalizationUnmasked:
    Imperialisminthe21stCentury.NewYorkandLondon:ZedBooks;
    Halifax:FernwoodPublishing,2001.
    Petras,James.NineEleven:Oneyearofempirebuilding.Rebelin
    (August12,2002).
    http://www.ratical.org/ratville/CAH/1yrEmpBlding.html.
    Pilger,John.TheNewRulersoftheWorld.London:Verso,2002.
    Pitt,WilliamRivers,withScottRitter.WaronIraq:WhatTeamBush
    Doesn'tWantYoutoKnow.NewYork:ContextBooks,2002.
    Rai,Milan.WarPlanIraq:TenReasonsAgainstWaronIraq.London:
    Verso,2002.
    Ritter,Scott.Endgame:SolvingtheIraqCrisis.2nded.,NewYork:
    Simon&Schuster,2002.
    Solomon,Norman,andReeseErlich.TargetIraq:WhattheNewsMedia
    Don'tTellYou.NewYork:ContextBooks,2003.
    Stich,Rodney.DruggingAmerica:ATrojanHorse.Alamo,California:
    DiabloWesternPress,1999.
    Vidal,Gore.PerpetualWarforPerpetualPeace:HowWeGotToBeSo
    Hated.NewYork:ThundersMouthPress/NationBooks,2002.
    .TheEnemyWithin.TheObserver(October27,2002),Review
    Section,14,http://burningbush.netfirms.com/Vidal.html.

    13.WhatIsToBeDone?

    115
    TheexcerptsherearefromwritingsbyMichaelAlbert,MichaelAlbertand
    Stephen Shalom, Noam Chomsky, Subcomandante Marcos, Ken Nichols OKeefe,
    JohnPilger,JustinPodur,andArundhatiRoy.
    Resolution1441[oftheUNSecurityCouncil]showsthattheUShasthe
    diplomatic support it needs to go to war. But diplomatic support from
    governmentsandeliteswillnotbeenoughifthereisenoughresistanceand
    protestfromordinarypeople.InSeptember2002,GeorgeWBushthreatened
    theUnitedNationswithirrelevanceifitdidntsupporthiswar.Thereverse
    istrue:theUNdemonstratesitsirrelevancewhenittakesdecisionsthatthe
    peopleoftheworldareagainst.WhatevertheUNSecurityCouncildoes,the
    peopleoftheworldarenotirrelevant.
    People who cannot be persuaded to trade human lives for oil
    concessions,whowontaccept aslaughterofcivilians simplybecausethe
    elitesofthestateswhovoteintheUnitedNationswerebribedandthreatened
    intosigningoffonthewar,canmobilizetostopthewar.IfUSplanshave
    beenslowedatall,itisbecauseofthemthetensofthousandsmobilizingin
    the US, the hundreds of thousands mobilizing in Europe and all over the
    world.
    JustinPodur,Resolution1441,Znet(Nov.11,2002),
    http://zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=15&ItenID=2613.

    [T]heintellectualresponsibilityofthewriter,oranydecentperson,istotell
    thetruth.[.]itisamoralimperativetofindoutandtellthetruthasbestone
    can,aboutthingsthatmatter,totherightaudience.[.]
    Tospeaktruthtopowerisnotaparticularlyhonorablevocation.One
    shouldseekoutanaudiencethatmattersandfurthermore(anotherimportant
    qualification),itshouldnotbeseenasanaudience,butasacommunityof
    commonconcerninwhichonehopestoparticipateconstructively.
    NoamChomsky,WritersandIntellectualResponsibility,inPerspectivesonPower
    (Montral:BlackRoseBooks,1997),pp.55,61.

    Effectiveactivismraisesthesocialcosttoelitesofpoliciesthatactivists
    wishtoreverse.Whenthatcostisraisedhighenough,elitesbegintoswitch
    theirpositionstotrytoreducethesocialcosts,nolongerfavoringbutnow
    opposingthepolicy.Ifenoughmembersofelitecorporateandpoliticalsectors
    switchtheirpriority,thepolicychanges.
    DuringthewaronVietnam,manyelitefiguresincludingpoliticians,
    prominentmediapeople,intellectuals,CEOs,andsoonmovedfrombeing
    advocates of the war to opponents of it. Of course working people and

    116
    studentsalsoswitchedsides,formoralreasons.Butwithveryfewexceptions
    (such as Daniel Ellsberg or William Fulbright) when these elite figures
    switchedfromsupporttoopposition,theydidsoforreasonsofsocialcost.
    [.]
    That change ofmind duetorising social costs is the aim ofcritical
    dissent.Weneedamovementbroadandcommittedenoughsoitscontinued
    growthissufficientlythreateningthatelitesdecideitisbettertogiveinand
    hopethatdoingsodissolvestheimpetustomovementgrowth,ratherthanto
    continuewiththeirwarriskingwhatthemovementmightunleash.Toswitch
    fromprotoantiwarinsufficientnumberstocauseapolicychange,elites
    mustbemorethreatenedbythemovementthantheyareinlovewiththeir
    war.
    MichaelAlbertandStephenR.Shalom,TenQ&AOnAntiwarOrganizing
    (October24,2002),http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?
    sectionID=15&ItemID=2527.

    Daybyday,thelatestheadlinestellusthatwearemovingevercloserto
    warwithIraq.Somanypeoplearoundtheworldareashamedandoutragedby
    thisprospectandyetfeelpowerlesstomaketheirvoicesheard.Largerallies
    forpeacehavebeenheldincitiesaroundtheworld.Yetthebulletinsquickly
    returntothewardrumsbeatingeverfasterforwhatmustbeoneofthemost
    choreographedandlongestplannedwarsinhistory.
    Thosewhosuffermostwillofcoursebetheinnocentandvictimized
    men,womenandchildreninIraqwhoaresettoendureyetanotherwarand
    unknownlossoflife.Theircrime?Simplytobethepowerlesscitizensofan
    oil rich nation with a violent dictator who no longer fulfils the needs of
    Westernpowerswhosupportedandarmedhiminthepast.
    Yetweneednotbepowerless.Gandhisaidthatpeacewillnotcome
    outofaclashofarmsbutoutofjusticelivedanddonebyunarmednationsin
    thefaceofodds.SowhatwouldhappenifseveralthousandWesterncitizens
    migratedtoIraqtostandsidebysidewiththeIraqipeople?Alongwithatfirst
    justafewhundredpeoplefromhundredsofmillionsintheWestIwillbe
    going to Iraq to volunteer to act as a human shield in the interests of
    protectinghumanlife.WewilljoinourfellowcitizensoftheworldinIraqto
    bearwitnessforpeaceandjustice.
    Wewillruntheriskofbeingmaimedorkilledbutitissimplythe
    same risk that innocent Iraqis will themselves face. I would rather die in
    defenseofjusticeandpacethanprosperincomplicitywithmassmurder
    andwar.ThisnotaboutsupportingSaddamHussein,asourgovernmentsdid
    inthepast.Itisaboutsavingthelivesofthoseinourhumanfamily.Wewill
    beexpressingtotheIraqipeopletherealitythatmostpeopleintheWestdo
    notsupportthiscriminalwar.[.]

    117
    Forme,thisisalsoanactofpersonalpenance.In1989,attheageof
    nineteenIcommittedthemostignorantactofmylife,IjoinedtheUnited
    States Marine Corps. In 1991 I went beyond ignorance into criminal
    participationinawaragainsttheIraqipeoplewhichultimatelyincludedthe
    use of depleted uranium against the civilian population. My reward as an
    AmericanHerowastobeusedbyBushSr.asahumanguineapigalong
    withseveralhundredthousandotherheroes.Wehavestillnotbeentoldthe
    fullstoryaboutGulfWarsyndromeorhowmanyofmyfellowsoldiers
    diedasaresult,butwedoknowthevalueourleadersputonourlives.When
    a nations leaders do not even respect the lives of their own sons and
    daughters,theenemywillneverenterintotherealmofconsideration.The
    hundredsofthousandskilledbysanctionsagainstIraqareseenasaprice
    worthpaying.ThehumancostsofanotherwarinIraqbarelyseemtoregister
    withourpoliticalleaders.[.]
    ThisWaronTerrorisbecomingtheultimateWaronFreedom,in
    theUnitedStatesandaroundtheworld.GeorgeBushhassaidthatevery
    nation,ineveryregion,nowhasadecisiontomake:eitheryouarewithus,or
    youarewiththeterrorists.
    Butwedonotonlyhavetwochoices.Fortherecord,Iamnotwith
    GeorgeBushorwiththeterrorists.Andthatiswhy,whenthiswarfinally
    begins,IwillbeinIraqwiththepeopleofIraq.Iinviteeverybodytojoin
    meindeclaringthemselvesnotcitizensofnationsbutworldcitizensprepared
    toactinsolidaritywiththemostwretchedonourplanetandjoinusorto
    supportoureffortsinotherways.
    KenNicholsOKeefe,BacktoIraqasaHumanShield,TheObserver(December
    29(2002),http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?
    SectionID=51&ItemID=2806.

    In 1946, Justice Robert Jackson, chief prosecutor at the Nuremberg


    trials,said:TheveryessenceoftheNurembergcharteristhatindividuals
    haveinternationaldutieswhichtranscendnationalobligations ofobedience
    imposedbythestate.
    WithanattackonIraqalmostacertainty,themillionswhofilledLondon
    andothercapitalsontheweekendof1516February,andthemillionswho
    cheeredthemon,nowhavethesetranscendentduties.TheBushgang,and
    TonyBlair,cannotbeallowedtoholdtherestofuscaptivetotheirobsessions
    and warplans. Speculation onBlairs political future is trivia; heand the
    roboticJackStrawandGeoffHoonmustbestoppednow,forthereasonslong
    arguedinthesepagesandonhundredsofplatforms.
    And,incidentally,nooneshouldbedistractedbythelatestopportunistic
    anticsof[internationaldevelopmentminister]ClareShort,whoseroutinehints
    ofrebellion,followedbyherpredictableinaction,havehelpedtogiveBlair
    thetimehewantstosubverttheUN.

    118
    There is only one form of opposition now: it is civil disobedience
    leading to what the police call civil unrest. The latter is feared by
    undemocraticgovernmentsofallstripes.
    Therevolthasalreadybegun.InJanuary,Scottishtraindriversrefused
    to move munitions. In Italy, people have been blocking dozens of trains
    carryingAmericanweaponsandpersonnel,anddockershaverefusedtoload
    arms shipments. US military bases have been blockaded in Germany, and
    thousandshavedemonstratedatShannonwhich,despiteIreland'sneutrality,is
    beingusedbytheUSmilitarytorefuelitsplanesenroutetoIraq.
    Wehavebecomeathreat,butcanwedeliver?askedJessicaAzulay
    andBrianDominickoftheAmericanresistancemovement.Policymakers
    aredebatingrightnowwhetherornottheyhavetoheedourdissent.Nowwe
    must make it clear to them that there will be political and economic
    consequencesiftheydecidetoignoreus.
    My own view is that if the protest movement sees itself as a world
    power,asanexpressionoftrueinternationalism,thensuccessneednotbea
    dream.Thatdependsonhowfarpeoplearepreparedtogo.Theyoungfemale
    employee of the Gloucestershirebased topsecret Government
    CommunicationsHeadquarters(GCHQ),whowaschargedthismonthwith
    leakinginformationaboutAmerica'sdirtytricksoperationonmembersofthe
    SecurityCouncil,showsusthecouragerequired.
    Inthemeantime,thenewMussolinisareontheirbalconies,withtheir
    virtuosorantsandimpassionedinsincerity.Reducedtowaggingtheirfingers
    inafutileattempttosilenceus,theyseemillions ofusforthefirsttime,
    knowingandfearingthatwecannotbesilenced.
    JohnPilger,Civildisobedienceisthesolepathleftforthosewhocannotsupportthe
    BushBlairactofaggression.OnlythenwillpoliticiansonbothsidesoftheAtlantic
    beforcedtorecognisethefollyoftheirways(March13,2003),
    http://pilger.carlton.com/print/132798.

    []Iintendtoreplytothedemandtosupportourtroopsbysayingthat
    yes,Itoosupportourtroops.
    IwillreplythatIsupportourtroopsnothavingtokillpeopleinIraq.
    Isupportourtroopsnotbeingorderedtoassaultdefenselesspopulations,
    towns, farms, and the infrastructural sinews of life that sustain a whole
    country'scitizenry.
    IsupportourtroopsnothavingtocarryoutordersfromCommanderin
    ChiefGeorgeBushandthenhavingtolivetherestoftheirliveswondering
    whytheyobeyedsuchabarbaricbuffoonratherthanresistinghisillegitimate,
    immoralauthority.[.]
    IsupportourtroopsnotdyinginIraqfigurativelyorliterally,physically
    orpsychologically.Isupportourtroopscominghomewiththeirheartsnot
    broken,retaininghumanityandcompassionessentialtofeelingtruesolidarity

    119
    withthosewhoconfronttyrannicalbehaviourabroad,orrighthereintheU.S.
    withits30milliontyrannizedpoor.
    I support our troops coming home with their minds ravenous to
    comprehendwhatiswrongwithwarforempire,whatiswrongwithwarto
    obliterateinternationallaw,whatiswrongwithwartocontroloilanduseitas
    abludgeonagainstalliesandenemiesalike,whatiswrongwithwarforprofit,
    whatiswrongwithwartointimidatewholenationsandcontinents,whatis
    wrongwithwartosubordinateaplanetandeventotestandtrumpetthetools
    ofwar.[.]
    I support our troops refusing to kill on behalf of politicians and
    profiteers.Isupportourtroopsrebellingagainstorders,notobeyingthem.I
    supportourtroopsrejectingreasonsofstate.AndIsupportourtroopscoming
    hometowheretheirrealbattleis.[.]
    WhatshouldwedoabouttheU.S.?Weshouldcurtailitsbelligerency,
    changeitsregime,andfundamentallyrevolutionizeitscentersofwealthand
    power.
    Supportourtroops,bringthemhome.
    Supportourtroops,providethemhousing.
    Supportourtroops,providethemhealthcare.
    Supportourtroops,providethemsociallyvaluablejobs.[.]
    Supportourtroops,andonedaytheywilljointhefightforunlimited
    justiceforall.
    MichaelAlbert,SupportourTroops,ZNet(March17,2003),
    http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=15&ItemID=3255.

    Forusthereisbutonedignifiedwordandoneconscientiousactionin
    thefaceofthiswar.ThewordNOandtherebelaction.
    ThatiswhywemustsayNOtowar.
    ANOwithoutconditionsorexcuses.
    ANOwithouthalfmeasures.
    ANOuntarnishedbygrayareas.
    ANOwithallthecolorswhichpainttheworld.
    ANOwhichisclear,categorical,resounding,definitive,worldwide.
    Whatisatstakeinthiswaristherelationshipbetweenthepowerfuland
    theweak.Thepowerfulispowerfulbecausehemakesusweak.Helivesoff
    ourwork,offourblood.Thatishowhegrowsfatwhilewelanguish.
    ThepowerfulhaveinvokedGodattheirsideinthiswar,sothatwewill
    accepttheirpowerandourweaknessassomethingthathasbeenestablished
    bydivineplan.
    Butthereisnogodbehindthiswarotherthanthegodofmoney,norany
    rightotherthanthedesirefordeathanddestruction.
    Theonlystrengthoftheweakistheirdignity.Thatiswhatinspiresthem
    tofightinordertoresistthepowerful,inordertorebel.

    120
    TodaythereisaNOwhichshallweakenthepowerfulandstrengthen
    theweak:theNOtowar.
    Some might ask whether the word which has convened so many
    throughouttheworldwillbecapableofpreventingthewaror,onceithas
    begun,ofstoppingit.
    Butthequestionisnotwhetherwecanchangethemurderousmarchof
    thepowerful.No.Thequestionweshouldbeaskingis:couldwelivewiththe
    shameofnothavingdoneeverythingpossibletopreventandstopthiswar?
    No honest man or woman can remain silent and indifferent at this
    moment.
    SubcomandanteMarcos,Notowar:ALettertoRebelItaly,ZNet(February16,
    2003),http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=51&ItemID=3057.

    Thetimehascome,theWalrussaid.Perhapsthingswillbecomeworse
    andthenbetter.Perhapstheresasmallgodupinheavenreadyingherselffor
    us.Anotherworldisnotonlypossible,shesonherway.Maybemanyofus
    wontbeheretogreether,butonaquietday,ifIlistenverycarefully,Ican
    hearherbreathing.
    ArundhatiRoy,ComeSeptember,LensicPerformingArtsCenter(September29,
    2002),ZNet,http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?
    SectionID=15&ItemID=2404.

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