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ABOUT zwarg.blog CATEGORIES MAIN ARCHIVES 1999(14) [+] 2000(3) [+] 2001(4) [+] 2002(18) [+] 2003(159) [+] 2004(108) [+] 2005(126) [+]United States vs. Iraq
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Wednesday, May 26 2004
Amnesty Condemnation Amnesty released their 2004 report on Human Rights today. Turns out that the world is not exactly turning up roses. One thing that makes sense to me is that the "War on Terror" has not done anything to improve the security or liberty of the citizens of the world. In fact, they have worsened. And worsened on the watch of the US, which is implicated in the detentions of "illegal combatants," instead of "prisoners of war." I mentioned this a while ago, but when you declare war, and you detain those that you capture, by the Geneva convention, if they are "prisoners of war," then they must be treated in a very specific manner. As in, preserving their rights. However, the administration that is drunkenly driving this nation's foreign policy believes that my calling them "illegal combatants" then the Geneva convention's rules do not apply. Yeah, Amnesty International didn't like the way that played out, so they docked us on that, too. They weren't too keen on the Death Penalty and prison systems, either. It seems to make sense when you think about it... Tuesday, May 25 2004Reflections on W. Oh man, that speech was RIPE. What I'm not going to do is discuss the number of times the man had mispronounced Iraq, Abu-Ghraib, in/dependence, among others. Maybe he's just nervous...it's okay. I can tell you what bugged me: the number of times he mentioned "the Iraqi people," like he hangs out with them. Like he knows what they are going through. Like he's all buddy-buddy with his new found Iraqi poker buddies. Guess what? Chalabi doesn't count. So I find his authority on what "the Iraqi people" want or need to be suspect. Friday, May 21 2004Empire: United States I started a volume (rightly so) called "Masters of War" the other day. It's about United States foreign policy in Latin America and Cuba during the Cold War. It's very interesting, since I my interest in the region has been piqued by films and conversations with people that I respect. A passage in the book that really caught my eye is this: "All the world thinks of the
United States as an empire, except the people of the United States," wrote
New York Times columnist Walter Lippman in 1927. [ He goes on to describe
some of the policies practices by the United States that exhibit imperialism ]
"Whichever we may choose to call it, this is what the world at large calls an
empire, or at least an empire in the making. Admitting that the word has an
unpleasant connotation, nevertheless it does seem as if the time had come for
us to look the whole thing squarely in the face and stop trying to deceive
ourselves."
Talk about resonating. I don't know how anyone else feels about that passage, but I feel like it's a pretty good description of what this nation continues to practice today. Yuck, I feel like I need a cold shower... Wednesday, May 19 2004War Today The BBC has put together an interesting 'almanac' of violent conflict occurring around the globe as of today. The clickable map highlights all the countries/regions that are currently experiencing some sort of violence, such as civil war or occupation. Iraq, Israel, Chechnya, Colombia are all on the map. As well as some that I was not aware of, like Nagorni Karabakh. It is sad to see this world get dragged down into ethnic fighting. So many hopes for peace, but so many power-hungry ethnic groups. In the words of one who is wiser than I: "meh." Monday, May 17 2004If This Bay Were My Lover. If this bay were my lover, If this bay were my lover, If this bay were my lover, If this bay were my lover, If this bay were my lover, If this bay were my lover, If this bay were my lover, If this bay were my lover, If this bay were my lover, If this bay had been my lover. Friday, May 14 2004Insight Into Different Focus The BBC today notes in this article that the focus of the latest developments of this war are not always the same on both sides of the world. A section of the articles reads: War of images
In its commentary, the well-regarded Lebanese newspaper, al-Safir, said the beheading "was not an eye for an eye. It was a scene for a scene." The paper continued: "Competition has begun between the disgusting pictures from Abu Ghraib prison and the one of Nick Berg's slaughter - just like advertisements marketing various products." This expands on a point made by several Arab commentators in interviews given since the killing of the young American in which they expressed their concern that it would distract attention from the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by American soldiers in a war of extreme images. I would have to agree, that in this country, and in the circles of society that I bounce between, that the response to the war is different just crossing the bridge. No doubt the huge geographical and cultural differences would also contribute to the perspective of news. But if we all think it sucks, why are we still in it? I must have asked this beforehand, but how can this end well? Thursday, May 13 2004Is There A War Still On? Many thoughts today. I saw a film the other night: "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised." Holy shit. Talk about the spin media puts on things. The film was a documentary about the coup and counter-coup that occurred during President Hugo Chavez' term, in 2002. TWO YEARS AGO. One question kept popping into my head: "WHERE THE FUCK WERE YOU?" How does this relate to my state of mind regarding our current pawn in the regime change game of life? Well. Glad you asked.
And the latest news of the gruesome killing(s) in Iraq? The sorrow in my heart cannot find solace in the fact that if it was not one individual, it would have been another. It also cannot find solace in the fact that the cycle of hatred that is turning into a cyclone over there. Even though cyclones eventually die down. I forget who it was, but they were interviewed by the BBC on video. It was some Hamas leader, stating that their movement was "defending Palestine." It sounded exactly like the fervent exclamations made by some inside of this country, that the War on Terrorism and Iraq is in order to "defend the US." Eek. Wednesday, May 05 2004On Prisons and Guards I remember reading about the Stanford Prison Experiment in my sociology class in college. The results were frightening, and the experiment was cancelled after only 6 days. (It was supposed to last 2 weeks.) Taking those lessons, Professor Zimbardo, one of the researchers in the experiment, applied them to the situation in Abu Ghraib jail. The article is available on the news.bbc.co.uk website. The thing that sticks with me the most? "If you give a person power over someone who is powerless, someone who has been demonised or made to seem less human, then that absolute power corrupts absolutely." On Hearts And Minds This is the situation, as I understand it: the United States, with little international cooperation, invaded another country in order to liberate the residents of said country from their tyrranical ruler under false pretenses. Now. Under said tyrranical ruler, there had been little opposition politically. Under said tyrranical ruler, there had been no terrorist activity, because it could have been perceived as a challenge to said tyrranical ruler's power. Under said tyrranical ruler, there was a degree of peace and order, even if it was done with a large stick. Then, said invading army comes into the picture, displaces said ruler, and all the mechanisms for suppressing aforementioned terrorists or opposition. I am slowly beginning to understand more and more why it is such a quagmire. That's not to say I didn't believe it was one before. Or that I think it's a good thing. Hardly. I just find this sequence of events inevitable. Well, you can think of it like 20/20 hindsight, I suppose. Tuesday, May 04 2004I Miss These All The Time. The lunar eclipse is coming! The lunar eclipse is coming! Unfortunately, I'm on the wrong side of the planet to see any of it. Poo, poo.
On Fucked Up Fries and Fruit Whoah. Where have I been? This happened over a year ago! I guess I wasn't paying that much attention. I am referring to the stupendous idea of renaming French Fries to "Freedom Fries." I found an old story on news.bbc.co.uk, and a witty commentary on alternet.org. How offensive. I was caught off guard, and I was kind of dumbstruck when I heard the conversation over dinner over the weekend. I said, "wait -- you're kidding, right?" I guess the best response to any of the "Freedom Food" movement is best summarized by: "Fuck off, they're made in Belgium." |
