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War

War. The Art of Deception Hiding the Grisly True Goals Behind Lofty Ideals. History Repeats. Colonial powers attempt to exploit a nation. The population resists, and a popular, anti-West leader emerges. This leader attempts to improve the conditions of the people.

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War

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  1. War The Art of Deception Hiding the Grisly True Goals Behind Lofty Ideals

  2. History Repeats • Colonial powers attempt to exploit a nation. • The population resists, and a popular, anti-West leader emerges. • This leader attempts to improve the conditions of the people. • The Western nations, being pushed out of capitalist markets, foster rebellion to regain access to resources and markets. • The Western nations tend to support right-wing extremist groups. • Repression of the population leads to further civil conflict.

  3. Panama • Manuel Noriega used to fight “communism” • Known for drug connections • Noriega loses supporters to Iran-Contra scandal • US soldiers “attacked” • Invasion in December 1989 kills 3,000 civilians or more • Government officials supporting US economic goals installed

  4. Afghanistan • Country suffered poverty • In the 1970’s, a populist rebellion occurred • US supported mujahedeen against populist government • Eventually mujahedeen succeeds, temporarily, before being replaced by Taliban • Taliban are even more conservative extremist than mujahedeen • US gives Afghanistan $43 mil in aid during UN sanctions.

  5. Contradictory Policy? • Bush Decides to Keep Afghan Sanctions - July 3, 2001 • http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E04E2DC1139F930A35754C0A9679C8B63 • Taliban's Ban On Poppy A Success, U.S. Aides Say - May 20, 2001 • http://select.nytimes.com/search/restricted/article?res=F00C12F63D590C738EDDAC0894D9404482

  6. Iraq 1991 • We supported Saddam in the war against Iran. • We supported Saddam in his repression of the Kurds. • We provided military support that included • Chemical weapons • Helicopters with crop spraying equipment for use with chemical weapons • Nuclear technology • Advances in missile technology • Kuwait was slant drilling into Iraqi territory. • Saddam made his intentions clear.

  7. Justification by Deception • Gulf of Tonkin - Vietnam • Shooting unarmed US personnel - Panama • Soviet Migs - Nicaragua • Babies and Incubators - Iraq 1991 • Genocide - Yugoslavia • WMD’s and al-Qaida - Iraq 2003

  8. Iraq: Voices from the Streets • Do the Iraqi’s want “liberation” from Saddam Hussein? • Do they want the US to invade Iraq? • What will they do if the US invades?

  9. Pretexts for War • Democracy • Freedom • Liberation from Tyranny

  10. What are the real reasons? • Economic stability • For the US • For multinational corporations (primarily US) • Political-Military influence/control of the region

  11. Architects of Disaster • William Kristol • Part of Neo-Conservative movement • Interview with NPR on April 1, 2003 • Second Iraq War started March 20, 2003

  12. What is the state of the insurgency? • Like many regions that are plagued with high unemployment, low security and rampant poverty, people are easily swayed by extremists. • Look at the immigration debate in the US - the poor, working class tend to be most antagonistic. • Lack of clean water, electricity and jobs, Abu Ghraib, car bombings, civilian casualties • All of these issues provide fodder for extremist groups, some of which participate

  13. Incompetence or Deceit? • Iraqis have different culture than US • “Pop Sociology” that there will be conflicts between Shia and Sunni • Fractious, Semi-democracy better than Saddam • Iraq War will be good for the Middle East

  14. Kristol - Iraqis have a “different culture”? • Is it really the culture causing the conflict? • Why are people upset? • How “Western” was Iraq prior to 1991 compared to neighboring states like Saudi Arabia and Iran?

  15. Kristol - Potential conflict between Shiite and Sunni is “pop sociology”? • “they will not meekly surrender to the imminent American-led military occupation of their country. And that fact itself carries grave consequences for American imperialism's broader designs.” • “You will also see that Iraq will not be allowed to “balkanize” in order to keep the Shiites and the Kurds from gaining too much control.” April 14, 2003

  16. Kristol - Iraq will be an “unbelievable improvement”? • Deaths under Hussein • chemical attacks - 30,000 Iraqi and Iranian deaths • 250,000 people were killed during the 1991 uprisings • http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/04/20030404-1.html • Deaths as a result of sanctions and destruction of Iraqi infrastructure 1991-2003 • 1 million, 500,000 were children • Deaths since the invasion • Approximately 650,000 • http://www.commondreams.org/views06/1016-20.htm

  17. Kristol - “Good effect elsewhere in the Middle East”? • Palestinian Landslide: The Elections; Hamas Routs Ruling Faction, Casting Pall On Peace Process • http://select.nytimes.com/search/restricted/article?res=F10B1EFA3A5B0C748EDDA80894DE404482 • Occupation Made World Less Safe, Pro-War Institute • “The assessment, by the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS), states that the occupation has become "a potent global recruitment pretext" for al-Qa'ida, which now has more than 18,000 militants ready to strike Western targets.” • http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0526-05.htm

  18. The Big Question • Are the neo-conservatives who led the charge to war: • Thoroughly incompetent and short-sighted? • Sadistic murderous opportunists for global economic goals? • Deceitful war-mongers to protect US political-military objectives? • A combination of the above?

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