http://www.uruknet.info/index.php?p=m64047&hd=&size=1&l=e

The end of Ms Bigelow’s acceptance speech for her Best Film Oscar. The victims didn’t get a mention.

You can only weep for the people of Iraq and Afghanistan, for those children left with birth defects in the aftermath of Fallujah, for those tortured at Abu Ghraib and Bagram and for the millions who have really been H+U+R+T.

What a very sick world we are living in.

What Roberts mentioned in his article was on the mark. Notwithstanding the good people of the Middle East, the region has enough sellouts who will gladly accept 30 pieces of silver. Just look at the number of Palestinian people knocked off by Israel. This could not be done without the complicity of some locals. Even the Iraqi Administration is mostly made up of people who have dual loyalties (and citizenships), doing the bidding of their masters. Just look what happened to a recent European expedition to Gaza which was barred from entry into Egypt. How about Saudi Arabia’s intransigence about helping its own people, let alone Arab causes. Just look how the leaders in Pakistan are pimping for the occupiers

Indeed, Roberts is correct in his assertion although he should not have characterized it by religion (stating “Muslims”). Nevertheless, his thesis is on the mark and I don’t think he needs to apologize. In fact, it is the operatives in this region who are content to keep their own people down while they sidle up with their masters for protection. Is it any wonder that the Middle East governments are widely reviled around the world.

Really, I hope that you look more honestly about the state of affairs in the Middle East and what will happen when the black gold runs out.

It’s not enough to provide “constructive criticism” to Iraqis who are strangling and drowning under the weight of U.S. military occupation.

Here in the U.S., it’s better to criticize the hell out of the current government HERE and demand an immediate end to all 3 occupations: of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Palestine.

When I say “demand an end to these occupations”, I don’t mean here, where no one will read it. I mean at your City Council and at your University student government, where the media will pick it up.

http://wrp.org.uk/news/5065

As my brother says, “The whole world should be weeping for Iraq and I mean that.”

One of the people who has taught me much in recent years in Paul Craig Roberts. Your article sent me back to Roberts’ original piece at ConterPunch. It’s written in Roberts’ clear, quick-paced, no-nonsense style and it covers, as usual, a broad range of topics. The focus, as you note, is Muslims’ lack of unity: divisiveness within nations (between Suniis and Shi’a in Iraq), between the upper classes and the masses in Egypt; as well as divisiveness between different nations and groups–between Persians and Arabs, for example.

Perhaps Roberts has overlooked or minimized some areas of Muslim cooperation. But, why quarrel with the idea that conquerors exploit divisions within the conquered groups? I don’t see how Roberts is excusing that basic reality of military strategy. The U.S. military did, in fact, exploit animosities between the different tribes of Turtle Island (or, “North America”), employing Indian scouts and renegades to wrest the land from those who had made it their own for several millennia. This is our besotted history, and the besotted history of Empires. Roberts’ conclusion may not be perfectly true, but I suspect there is much truth in it: “As long as Muslims hate and fear one another more than they hate their conquerers, they will remain a vanquished people.” (In fact, he seems to be echoing a movie I saw almost 50 years ago: “Lawrence of Arabia.” In that instance, T.E. Lawrence made a similar comment, substituting “Arabs” for “Muslims.”)

Let’s also not be divided among ourselves. Roberts has sounded a strong, dissident voice against war and against the rapacity of the American–and now global–economic system for several years. The Cockburns, too, and CounterPunch in general, have been stalwart guardians of truth and facts during our “low, dishonest decade.” These men had ample opportunity to “sell out,” take the easy path, join the establishment of lies and prevarications. Roberts, for one, turned his back on that, did a 180 in his credulity about our “democratic system,” our “free markets,” etc. Personally, I laud his and the Cockburns’ guts, fortitude and commitment to truth–as, indeed, I laud yours, too.

http://manfromatlan.blogspot.com/2009/03/whither-islam.html

Speaking of war criminals– The University of Michigan is catching up to Apartheid Israel.

‘Historic “Divestment Resolution Passed” at University of Michigan student government, in Dearborn ‘

That resolution is here:

http://www.odsg.org/co/index.php/Statements/1691-historic-qdivestment-resolution-passedq-at-university-of-michigan-student-government-in-dearborn.html

Boycott Israel, and end every occupation immediately!

Roberts’ analyses probably don’t go as far as mine. He most likely omitted the fact that both US and most arab lands are a bird of a feather, thus flock together.

Nearly all arab lands are now uniting with US fascsists solely in order to forever maintain their ‘godgiven right’ to rule over, as it sees, stupid, uneducated, and lazy people. So, welcome to US-isr-arab-indian-european fascist alliance. tnx

Today the BBC have given prominence to the terrible birth defects that are occurring in Fallujah as a consequence of the use of vile DU weaponry there in 2004. This matter has been known about for some time and my brother is one of the doctors who wrote to Treki at the United Nations last year. No reply was received.

http://www.uruknet.info/index.php?p=m58926

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/8548707.stm

All of the war criminals responsible for these crimes and the ones ongoing in Afghanistan must stand in the dock at The Hague.