War as a policy: WSIUI Speech delivered by Dr. Lamees Ibrahim
At the Oxford Building Alliances Against War Conference 28th Feb 2009
As you all know a devastating war on Iraq was launched six years ago, on the pretext of Weapons of Mass destruction. The idea that Iraq possessed WMD and posses an imminent threat’ to the world was marketed by the Pentagon and Whitehall, with the aid and complicity of the mainstream media.
The corporate media relayed the messages coming out of the Pentagon’s press briefings instead of probing them and questioning their veracity.
It all started with the ‘liberation of Iraq’ act passed by the US Congress in 1998. This act states, “It should be the policy of the United States to support efforts to remove the regime headed by Saddam Hussein from power in Iraq and to promote the emergence of a democratic government to replace that regime.” This act authorised the allocations of 98 million dollars for financing Iraqi National Congress of Ahmed Chalabi, the INC as many analysts have proven worked closely with the neo conservatives, who are the enthusiasts of the Project New American Centaury, for the US’s Full Spectrum Dominance, on land , in sea, in the air and in space. As George Bush put it in autumn of 2002, "the US military might should not be challenged."
What has to be said is for those who were listening closely, Mr Bush and his cronies were frank and open about their intentions in Iraq.
In July 2002 on ITV’s Tonight with Trevor McDonald program, Mr Bush said:” even if Iraq complied with all UN resolutions, there will be a war. Mr. Hussein acts against our interests”.
On the 20th September 2002, Colin Powell, exasperated by the split in Europe over the war on Iraq, said: ”the countries that will help us on Iraq will benefit from the reconstuction contracts, those who don’t will not”.
In Feb 2003, Richard Perle an advisor to Mr. Bush said after the return of the UN inspectors to Iraq, “Even if Iraq is given a clean bill of health, we will not be satisfied”.
All this time while the main stream media with its pundits and analysts, are toying with the idea of WMD, but never challenging it. Indeed some outlets took it upon themselves to even blow the US claims out of proportions. Further demonising Iraq and painting it as a monster that is out of control.
Not one mainstream journalist asked the question, if this so, how come none of Iraq’s neighbours were keen on the idea of a war on Iraq?
Maps of Iraq were published in every single newspaper in the UK, with markers and symbols showing locations of chemical, biological and even nuclear weapons. Planting the idea in people’s minds that there are no doubts about their existence. All this plus the unashamed claim by Tony Blair of the totally baseless 45 minutes claim.
We even had the Daily Telegraph concocting a fantastic tale, that Saddam plans to use Palestinian refugees as human biological bombs, deliberately infecting Israelis and western civilians!
The invasion of Iraq took place despite a last minute offer from Iraq to allow the US troops in peacefully accompanied by the UN to search for the WMD plus the promise of holding UN supervised elections in two years. This credible and possible solution was also ignored.
A similar gesture by the Talaban was also ignored in 2001. You never see this in the press nowadays, no one remembers that the Taliban, offered to hand over Osama Bin Laden to a neutral county. But we all know that the relationship between the Bush administration and the Taliban only turned sour when they refused to sign the deal for the Natural Gas pipeline.
I have to say, I feel concerned when I hear British peace campaigners, saying the war on Afghanistan is a just war or that it is a war against drugs! Hardly any drugs were coming out of Afghanistan under the Taliban.
So the invasion of Iraq took place with a devastating war. A war that has not ended so far.
I would refer you to our fact sheet that contains most of the important statistics, that paint a devastating picture of the situation in Iraq. A man made catastrophe. I personally have no doubt that this war on Iraq is not just a war for oil, but also a war for Israel. It is a well known fact that the planners of this war, are neo conservatives supporters of the state of Israel. This is a staging post for the US’s plans to the east of Iraq.
I would also put it to you that Israeli methods used on the Palestinians by Ariel Sharon in 2002, were and are actually being used in Iraq by the occupiers and their stooges. it is no big secret that the US marines received Israeli training prior to the war on Iraq.
Moreover, the US/UK blatant disregard to international law and international consensus, emboldened Israel into launching its devastating wars on Lebanon in 2006 and on Gaza recently.
"Hizbullha and Hamas should not have provoked Israel into these wars" I hear people in the peace movement blaming both sides , in an attempt to appear ’well balanced, measured and not biased’.
People should bear in mind, that the media outlets in this country are no longer a source for learning the whole truth. Activist are increasingly dependent on the internet or on TV channels such as al Jazeerah English and PressTV reachable on the internet.
The idea that Israel launched its war on Lebanon in 2006 and its war on Gaza on the 27th Dec 2008, as a knee jerk reaction is a naïve notion to say the least. The ex US ambassador to Lebanon appeared on CNN, being very critical of the Israeli war, citing many occasions, incidents on the border that did not end up in a war.
And those of us who have followed up the news from Gaza, know that it was Israel who broke the cease fire agreement, by not lifting the siege as promised and by continuing its practice of illegal assassinations. This illustrated to all the real vision of peace Israeli style. Many analysts believe this war on Gaza was planned at least 6 months ahead of time and that it was politically timed.
I will now tell you about the heavy price we had to pay for Bush and Blair’s mission of democracy in Iraq.
I must here quote Hanaa Ibrahim of Women will Association, who said that in today’s Iraq:
Peace means town and village sieges and one ton bombs dropped on residential areas, as has happened in Mousel, Tikrit and Baiji in 2008 and Arab Jebour in 2007.
Democracy means unprecedented corruption, the Iraqi government today is the third most corrupt in the world according to Transparency International.
Democracy means giving the Iraqi collaborators a junior share of the loot.
Western values preached by Bush and Blair, mean national libraries and archives on fire, Museums looted and bombed.
Emancipation means over 850 000 prisoners in US and occupation governments various prisons. Law and order means militias and bribe- able security forces that does not hesitate to abuse its powers. Self determination means the government and all its institutions comply with the occupiers plans.
Liberation means living amongst the ruins of the infrastructure and Depleted Uranium, with no electricity, clean water or access to sewerage. It means women struggling to feed the children, make painful choices, whether to buy medicine or food. Buy fuel for heating or a pair of shoes for her daughter to go to school.
Freedom means over 200 000 mercenaries killing and maiming Iraqis at will and with impunity. It is the freedom of the special forces and secret police of any country in the world to roam our cities and do their dirty work.
What is happening to Iraq, Palestine, Somalia, Haiti and other places in the world. It is not good for us and it is not good for you here in the UK. You have witnessed your civil liberties curtailed and the deficit in accountability in your political system.
We must come together to fight our common enemy, international capitalism and its war machine.
For Iraq, there is a way forward. Iraq Occupation Focus a London based solidarity group has launched Justice for Iraq Campaign, I would urge you to look up their site:justiceforiraq.net. I have a few copies of the main demands of this campaign. I urge you to support it.
On Palestine there is a great need for a mass anti Zionist movement, just like the anti apartheid movement we had in the past.
We need to restore the authority and jurisdiction of international law, we need to unite against the enemy of humanity.
