Iraq: The Devastation by Dahr Jamail

[Dancing_Dave]

Friday 07 January 2005

The devastation of Iraq? Where do I start? After working 7 of the last 12 months in Iraq, I'm still overwhelmed by even the thought of trying to describe this.

The illegal war and occupation of Iraq was waged for three reasons, according to the Bush administration. First for weapons of mass destruction, which have yet to be found. Second, because the regime of Saddam Hussein had links to al-Qaeda, which Mr. Bush has personally admitted have never been proven. The third reason - embedded in the very name of the invasion, Operation Iraqi Freedom - was to liberate the Iraqi people.

So Iraq is now a liberated country.

I've been in liberated Baghdad and environs on and off for 12 months, including being inside Fallujah during the April siege and having warning shots fired over my head more than once by soldiers. I've traveled in the south, north, and extensively around central Iraq. What I saw in the first months of 2004, however, when it was easier for a foreign reporter to travel the country, offered a powerful - even predictive - taste of the horrors to come in the rest of the year (and undoubtedly in 2005 as well). It's worth returning to the now forgotten first half of last year and remembering just how terrible things were for Iraqis even relatively early in our occupation of their country.

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Read the rest of the REAL news at http://www.truthout.org/docs_05/010805F.shtml

If you can face the truth, you will know what you need to do.

[no_to_war_economy]

1. stay safe Dahr

I worry for that man, he writes way tooooo much truth about Iraq

his stories are so GD important ! THANK YOU DAHR

[electric-eye]

2. The media could have prevented this slaughter

and they could stem it to some extent now.

Just show the damn pictures and tell the damn truth.

The US media is as culpable as cheney and rumsfeld and rice, and puppet bush. Blood on their hands for years. Whores.

bush's attack on Iraq should land this whole unAmerican regime behind bars for the rest of their lives.

It's just too much to take.

Selfish lazy dopes who'd rather turn a blind eye than to perform patriotic duty, all the while fresh blood is flowing over their hand - its just too much.

I have never been more ashamed of anything as I am of bush's imposter nation.

May God forgive us.

[Dancing_Dave]

3. Since our corporate media wouldn't even tell us anything near truth

About what really happened in New York City on 9/11/2001, what is the hope that they will EVER tell us the truth about Iraq?

Just not gonna happen, dude. Get online, find the truth that the US corporate media will obviously NEVER tell any of us, and get in the movement you need to be in. Every day, I see more college students are bright enough to absorb this...and they are the ONLY age group that clearly voted against the Bush neo-con Regime in the 2004 election. ONLY those who can face the truth will ever get it right.

[driver8]

5. My God...

I never thought I would say this, but I am ashamed to be an American...

[bpilgrim]

4. America brought electricity to my ass before they brought it to my HOUSE

"In December 2003, for instance, a man in Baghdad, speaking of the Abu Ghraib atrocities, said to me, "Why do they use these actions? Even Saddam Hussein did not do that! This is not good behavior. They are not coming to liberate Iraq!" And by then the bleak jokes of the beleaguered had already begun to circulate. In the dark humor that has become so popular in Baghdad these days, one recently released Abu Ghraib detainee I interviewed said, "The Americans brought electricity to my ass before they brought it to my house!""

:cry:

peace

[Dancing_Dave]

6. At least if you can face the terrible Truth

You will know what you need to do:
http://www.notinourname.net/index.html

:nopity:

[reprobate]

7. They not only destroyed Iraq, they are destroying the United States

God may forgive this country but the rest of the world will not.

Right now we are starting to see the economic retaliation. I would not be surprised to see attacks on our shores by various and sundry factions, not just the Muslim fundamentalists.

We are after all the most despised nation in the world now.

And we deserve it. At least 50% of Americans deserve it because they voted him in both times.

I have a brother in law who typifies the type. A firm and steady bush supporter and a very religious Christian, we have had some interesting discussions. When I asked him why he refuses to accept truths verified around the world his answer was "because I'm afraid to." At least he's honest.

It's the idea that if he were to accept the truth, all of the foundations of his world would crumble. I wonder how many others have the same problem. I'm afraid that one day his attitude will bite him in the ass.

[bpilgrim]

8. kick

peace