NEWS FIX
February 10, 2003
The Grand Design. At rupe-india.org, a special edition of "Aspects of India's Economy" is devoted to an in-depth study called "Behind the Invasion of Iraq." What it says is sobering: We are about to witness a major new develop- ment, with far-reaching consequences: the direct imperialist occupation of the whole of Iraq. Further, it is widely reported in the American press that the United States plans to use the invasion of Iraq as a launching pad for a drastic re-shaping of West Asia.
In effect we are seeing a resurgence of colonialism, in which India will become a "semi-colony." This is very interesting reading and astute analysis.
See TomDispatch.com for Tom Englehardt's commentary on moves by "Old Europe" and Saudi Arabia to prevent Bush's war plans from going through. Amazing stuff is going on in the world right now.
The Agonist has posted an interview with an American military officer who speaks off the record. Fascinating! "Military friendly? That's a joke," he says. "Look at how they are treating our veterans. This makes me sick. It's galling. It's unconscionable. But the grunts think these guys are the greatest. The politicians see us as a means to an end. Of course, that is their prerogative. We ARE a means to an end, in a certain twisted sense. That's the role I've chosen for my life. I just think this 'end' isn't so important when there is another huge problem out there. We should be much more concerned about Asia."
According to the BBC, Belgium will block an American request for NATO to start deploying forces to protect Turkey in the event of a US-led war with Iraq. France also said it will oppose the request and use its veto, despite pressure from the US. Belgium's Foreign Minister Louis Michel said, "When one has to take a slap in the face such as the insulting remarks... by Mr Rumsfeld, who comes to teach a thing or two to 'old Europe', the Europe of democratic values, humanist Europe, the Europe of the Age of Enlightenment, personally I find that this hurts."
His Most Holy George W. Bush told Americans preparing for war with Iraq to put their faith in "the loving God behind all of life, and all of history," in the State of the Union message. (See NY Times.) He's telling grieving families to seek comfort in the afterlife, after he's destroyed this one. Asylums are characterized by people who think they are Napoleon, how about a man who has subverted democracy, negated the Bill of Rights, has set out on a war agenda that has already left thousands of innocent people dead and promises millions more before the rampage is finished, and he says, "Events aren't moved by blind change and chance. Behind all of life and all of history, there's a dedication and purpose, set by the hand of a just and faithful God." What, by the way, is a "faithful God"?