Validating Corruption
Posted by Greg at 23:17, 20 Jul 2004Over a year since the beginning of the Iraq war, and one thing plays on my mind. It's a three-way choice. Either...
I think the second option can be ruled out, not just because intelligence personnel are usually of some cognitive ability, but because of instances such as Australian Andrew Wilkie actually decrying the incorrect use of intelligence material BEFORE the Iraq war (Wilkie resigned in protest).
Either way, that leaves George W. Bush, Tony Blair, and John Howard, as leaders that are optionally manipulative and corrupt, or just plain stupid.
The pre-emptive war undertaken by the 'Coalition of the Willing' was an illegal invasion of a sovereign state. That is plain to see - no WMD, no terrorist threat, no harbouring of Al-Qaeda. If Iran, Pakistan and Indonesia had done it under the same pretext, it would have been roundly condemned. Just because it is the 'West' doing it, doesn't make it right.
Also, our pitiful attempts to validate our invasion by saying "they're much better off without Saddam Hussein" don't carry water. I'm sure the same applies to most 'leaders' in these depressing days. And try carrying that excuse to a father who has lost his whole family to a bombing.
We were wrong. Legally and morally so. Our leaders were the ones who took us to war. Whether that was through their corruption or stupidity matters not. US President Harry S. Truman famously had a plaque on his desk, "The Buck Stops Here". Ain't that the damn truth.
For me personally, I have no belief in the political opposition in Australia. I see them much the same as those in power, just of a slightly different tint. I can't say even whether they are competent to run the country. But this much is sure - I will not validate the incumbent for another term. To do so would be to say "you did okay", when it is a no-brainer that they did pretty damn awful.
I will not endorse being manipulated, and neither will I vote for a person who can't think for themselves, let alone a country. I may not be able to invoke change on my own, but I can at least satisfy myself that I haven't validated or supported wrong-doing.
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Comments
5 May 2004
8 years 14 weeks
If Dubya wins in November, Iran is next in 2005.
You heard it here first. Ok, close to first.
Steven Mizrach
Academic, Pop Culture Junkie, Grail Recycler
30 April 2004
12 hours 18 min
New World Order?
;)
The current posturing, beginning of innuendo etc is remarkably similar to the Iraq situation. Playing with nukes, now allowing Al-Qaeda safe travel...
In a recent article about the Iran-Al Qaeda link, I was amused to read the US government official saying "Iran, like Al-Qaeda, shared a hate for the West, and the governments of Saudi Arabia and Iraq". How soon the whistled tune changes.
The difference may be that Iran (a) is probably a more potent military power than Iraq, and (b) even larger portions of the population would support insurgency.
What intrigues me is that there's this military dictatorship which sanctions human rights abuses, has nuclear weapons and passed on their secrets to other rogue nations...I think called Pakistan...but they are our ally. This really is confusing.
I'm drowning in cynicism.
Peace and Respect
Greg
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You monkeys only think you're running things
24 June 2004
5 years 49 weeks
Great blog Greg.
Thanks for taking a stand and yelling it loud.
The way I feel about the politics in the US and Australia at present I feel like moving to NZ.At least they stand up for what they believe in.Which means standing up to the US.
Iran will be next of course, and so on and so on.
The question I have is why do the politicians in Australia see the situation the way they do?
Their children have to live here,in the divided society they are busy creating.
Or like Howard's son who is working on Bush's re-election campaign and Ruddock's daughter who left the country in shame of her father, maybe they won't live here.
shadows
30 April 2004
12 hours 18 min
Hi Shadows,
It would be interesting to create a list of the misinformation/propaganda we were fed before and during the war. I'm sure there's some psychological expert just telling governments "put this out there, then let it fade away...it will still play on their mind".
For example, how many remember that boat out in the ocean that was being tracked because they thought it was carrying WMD? That was on the news here for about two weeks straight, then the news item just sort of disappeared with no further update. Ditto for mobile labs/weather stations, ditto for meeting in Prague etc etc.
A list would be very enlightening to ascertain how much bullshit has been fed to us.
Peace and Respect
Greg
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You monkeys only think you're running things
11 May 2004
9 weeks 6 days
Hey Greg,
You wanted all the lies and deceptions put in a long row. Lets start with the power behind the Imperial Throne: the members of The Project For a New American Century who all went on to be power-players in the Bush cabinet. Continue with the many many other lies, as documented by the excellent Information Clearing House.
Funnily enough I hadnt read any of the articles on that site until after I had written the "Age of Empires" blog.
To sit in silence when we should protest makes cowards out of men
Greg,
There are many other conditions that you have not taken into consideration. Look at the apparent and then cross you eyes and you will see the truth of only one part. I grew up with George Bush in my backyard, He is just as straight as an arrow. But, I also saw Mr. Clinton's file when I was working on the Southern Governor's conference committee some years before he made a run at the presidency...Some of what you base your convictions upon may not be as solid as you may think...Hide and watch. But don't count on what you think you see...There is so much you may not discern. 20 years.
24 June 2004
5 years 49 weeks
Hi, Oscar by the sound of it.
Is that the same Bush who was done for drunk driving a number of times?
Is it the same Bush who disappeared from the Home Guard [or whatever it is called in the US] and no explanation was ever made for where he was?
Is it the same Bush whose brother fiddled the election system and thus got elected in a spurious manner?
Think about it Oscar.....there is so much you have not discerned.......don't count on what you see.
shadows