Congress
Wars end in victory or surrender. Occupations end with withdrawals. Thom Hartmann made the point on his radio show this week that as long as the Republicans — and the media and even the Democratic candidates — continue to frame the Iraq occupation as a “war,” John McCain and other proponents of endless occupation will continue to falsely claim that leaving Iraq would be “surrendering to al Qaeda.”
Looking back on Bush’s adventure, it is increasingly clear that, even though it was called a war from the beginning, it has all the contours of an invasion and occupation. Our forces went in, routed the government, arrested and killed its leaders and installed a puppet regime, albeit by popular election. Except for the brief ground war after the invasion, there was nothing remotely like a traditional ground war.
Next month, we’ll mark the fifth year of the occupation. Unlike wars, Hartman pointed out, occupations are supposed to end. He may be right that the first small step toward withdrawing from this one may be reframing the debate.
Topics: Congress
Amen! … from Day 1, I asked if ‘War’ had been declared. People responded, “what difference does it make?” A BIG difference! I’d respond.
Unfortunately, the bottom line is that the networks and print media (AKA Main Stream News) do not care to discuss it. Just too difficult for us ‘consumers’ to grasp, I suppose.
Just look at the latest fiasco with Bill ‘Damned’ O’Reilly and the Homeless Vets — that don’t exist!!
I don’t fall on the “no war has been declared so there is not a war” side of the equation. We have fought shooting wars against others in the past (Vietnam, Korea, post-Tito Yugoslavia, etc.) that were sure enough wars without a declaration of such. I may not agree with it, but it is a fact of life that this can happen.
I do say, however, that what is going on in Iraq is no longer a war. The War in Iraq ended after we (and by WE I mean BUSHco)invaded and established ourselves as the de facto power there by invading a sovereign nation and ousting the rulers of that country. Once we had completed that task the war part was over (We “won”) and the occupation ensued.
As our elected leaders, candidates for office, pundits, media, and people and general move forward and use the phrase “War in Iraq” they perpetuate the myth that allows things to be framed in terms of surrender and defeat, and victory and winning. This framing is incorrect and this needs to be shouted down every time someone uses it as the paradigm.
Any educated person should have realized its an occupation, and by all international understanding, foreign troops have no place in a sovereign nation.
However, the American public is so full of apathy and so easily led that it doesn’t take much to pull the wool over their eyes.
What really gets me is that Congress refuses to expose it, and acts like the need to stay is carved in stone.
How did we let all these charlatans get into office anyway?
Yes, Thom Hartmann has been making this case for a long time. Here is a link for his June 2006 essay ‘Reclaim the Issues – “Occupation, Not War”‘
http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0619-22.htm
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That’s right, it’s not a “war”, but an occupation.
Just like all those dead American kids and Iraqi civilians.
They’re not “dead”, just taking a dirt nap.
And Bush is not a “president”, but a autocrat.
And Dick Cheney is a lovable peacenik who’s been maligned.
The day Bremer disbanded the Iraqi military it became an occupation.
Nobody can win an occupation. No military, no private army, no country.
When we leave the insurgents will declare victory as that is their quest.
We have given the puppet government a huge opportunity and the current government has not gotten the support of the people.
The government that will succeed in Iraq will be by the choice of the people (democracy of a sort) not necessarily the one we want.
Occupation doesn’t sound good though . If it starts being called what it is , it would become obvious we’re over there as invaders . If we were truly ” liberators ” we wouldn’t have to hide in the so called green zone , liberators tend to be welcome . Plus , it would be extemely hard to justify the enormous cost if we admit its an occupation . I find it particularly sad that when the dead soldiers are shipped home its always said they bravely died defending us from terrorism . Nope , they died for nothing , absolutely nothing . If anything , our presence over there is breeding terrorism , not protecting us from it . What we have accomplished is the almost total distruction of one of the few secular governments in the middle east . Yes , Hussan was a dictator and could be nasty . But under his rule women had freedom and were educated , the shia and the sunnies lived together in peace and he held Iran in check . What we have created is no less than a hell on earth . If we’re really so interested in fighting terrorism and spreading democracy , then why don’t we go after the country that breeds the terrorists , Saudi arabia ? If you want a repressive vile government , they’re it . Sadams Iraq was a breath of fresh air and liberty compared to the saudies ultra repressive feudal theocracy . Most americans aren’t aware that you can’t even visit saudi arabia unless your contracted to work there or a muslim going to the hoge .
[...] Hartmann its an occupation not a Wars end in victory or surrender. Occupations end with withdrawals. Thom Hartmann says that until the media and the Democrats stop calling the invasion and occupation a "war," McCain et al can make the powerful argument that withdrawal would me Submitted: 4 days ago Category: News Submitter: RssFeed Website: http://www.pensitoreview.com Report this link: Click here to report Comments: 0 [...]