Iraq abuse "as bad as Saddam era"
Via the BBC
The former Iraqi prime minister, Iyad Allawi, has called for immediate action against human rights abuses in Iraq:
"People are doing the same as (in) Saddam Hussein's time and worse," Mr Allawi told the newspaper.
Iraq is the centrepiece of this region. If things go wrong, neither Europe nor the United States will be safe
Iyad Allawi
"It is an appropriate comparison. People are remembering the days of Saddam.
"These were the precise reasons that we fought Saddam Hussein, and now we are seeing the same things."
Militias are operating within the Shia-led government, torturing and killing in secret bunkers, he said.
What are we to make of this alarming story? Is this an exaggeration, a political manoeuvre? Is it true or at least partly true? Hard to say.
If true, it demonstrates that instituting democracy from the top down is as hard as many predicted it would be.
And to the US and the UK it would signal a further need for prolonged presence of troops and that means more trouble to me. It's definitely starting to develop into a Vietnam-type situation...
He also warned of the danger of Iraq disintegrating in chaos.
"Iraq is the centrepiece of this region," he said. "If things go wrong, neither Europe nor the United States will be safe."
Keywords: Allawi, Iraq, war
posted by Gert @ 5:40 PM
9 comments
9 Comments:
To me this war was about anything but it's stated intentions and we will all be paying for this crap for a lifetime to come.
Many already are paying. They have been for a long time and look set to continue paying an extremely high price.
For those with strong stomachs, I included pictorial evidence of 'price-paying' yesterday. Remember what I say about strong stomachs though, before following the link I provided.
Semi off topic - but it is 'children paying a high price' related and I know it's of great concern to you too. 'Pelican' @ The Daily KOS has just picked up on the recent pesticides/chemicals/children/test piece.
That can only be good - I'm already getting an big influx of site-hits/visitors from there.
Gert,
Why do you waste your time debating the absolute morons that frequent "Timmer's" bolg? Those people are complete dumbshits that are repeating what hired administration propogandists told them to shut up and believe... and reason and logic are the enemy to them.
Richard:
Glad to hear that story is finally gaining some momentum!
Crallspace:
You're right of course but Timmer isn't the worst of the wingnuts, not by a long shot, he can be quite prone to bouts of reason. Nice blog, BTW Crallspace.
He may not be the worst, but he sure has that "Me Tarzan, You Jane" mentality down. He thinks that because it works for HAnnity and Rush on their radio shows, that it's a reasonable formula for debate in all political discussion.
Every time I imagine he introduces himself, I picture the retarded kid from South Park.
"Timmer!!" Looby-lau Looby Lau! Timmer!"
That's when his fellow conservatives give him the title of "political intellectual."
Gert -
I (and every other reasonable righty) am also appalled, but not surprised, that this has transpired in Iraq. There is LOTS of anger there - plenty to go around for both sides.
And Allawi is nobody's fool - this situation needs to be addressed NOW! We are trying to do good things in Iraq, regardless of the political blinders on some. You may not see it now, but it is my hope that you will.
Dan -
You flatter me, my boy! Glad to see that you obsess about me and my site (and let's be honest - you visit about as often as Gert does).
Tarzan (Looby-lau Looby Lau!) OUT! ;-)
The difference between Saddam's and Gomorrah's era is that the former's persecutorial tendencies proffered no end other than 'the end' in sight.
However, the existing occupiers claim that the current insurgency is a prelude to 'democracy' once the west wins yet again. This is the myth that attains much form in the imagination of the masses by virtue of there not being any viable alternative because they are not observable in contrast to the currently practiced and American idea of 'democracy' and 'freedom'.
This serves as the cultural base upon which America, amongst other colonialists, are able to found their activities across the planet.
Whilst being opposed to the war, we ought to complement it with efforts to remind the masses that the american idea of democracy ought not to be thought as the only viable idea simply because it is the only type that is being practiced. Such notions, the masses have to be reminded, were behind all the tyrannies of history that sought to perpetuate their power on the basis of their being the only viable alternative.
None of the above perspectives are new, but, unfortunately, the people are.
Inquisitor:
Looking at the state of "Anglo-Saxon" democracy (well, US-UK) exporting this might not be a good idea at all...
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