Uncontrolled violence and chaos in Iraq:

no safety for civilians in the looting, chaos and destruction, says UN spokeswoman


Kurdish irregular forces take another city in scenes of anarchy and violence

and this may not strictly fall within the definition of profiteering but:


SMH Online reports that the US aims to take control of Iraqi oil until a new ministry is formed...meanwhile the Pentagon is to call the shots in how the USA will be running post-war Iraq (the UN only has observer statuts)


and Australia expresses relief at beating USA to wheat deal in Kuwait: While there is scant appetite by the government or local companies to be seen to be thinking about profiting from the war, there is equally little enthusiasm to sit back and let corporate America reap all the opportunities from rebuilding. The Prime Minister, John Howard, said the Government would proceed "with a very clear eye to Iraq's long term future, but also to our own national interest in terms of peace and security and of commercial interests". And this from the Australian Minister for Agriculture, Warren Truss: "We have been concerned about the US's use of a mixture of aid and commercial services to break into new markets," he said. "We would expect the US to respect the market that we have in Iraq."

Iraqi civilian casualties quickly forgotten: Despite constant discussion of "precision bombing," the US invasion has produced so many dead and wounded that Iraqi hospitals stopped trying to count. Red Cross officials have labeled the level of casualties "incredible," describing "dozens of totally dismembered dead bodies of women and children" delivered by truck to hospitals. Cluster bombs, one of the most indiscriminate weapons in the modern arsenal, have been used by US and UK forces, with the British defense minister explaining that mothers of Iraqi children killed would one day thank Britain for their use.

America already warning those "next in line": US warns countries it has accused of pursuing weapons of mass destruction, including Iran, Syria and North Korea, to "draw the appropriate lesson from Iraq" - claims that Rumsfield last week ordered a contingency plan for invading Syria

Looting and chaos in Baghdad: reports of anarchy setting in - US soldiers not puuting out fires or preventing people from stealing from hospitals because "not under orders to do so". But America reassures Turkey that they won't let rogue Kurdish forces stay in control of the oil city of Kirkuk.

I do agree with Paul Rundle who says, at least a lot of Iraqis seem happy, but that's not the end of the story. Yes, there is joy in Baghdad and this gives pause for thought. Will it last and how widespread is it? Many of those celebrating are Shia Muslims who got a rough deal from Saddam. But there are thousands rather than millions on the streets. Are supporters of the US invasion more numerous or just more visible?


And: The happiness people feel at Saddam's destruction can easily distract you from what our world will be like should the principle of unilateral military humanitarianism be adopted by India, Pakistan, Israel, Iran, China - and the US. It is a world of perpetual - or annihilating - war, not perpetual peace.

Also, this comment from an April 5 editorial in the Spectator: When Saddam is gone and Iraqis need no longer fear the midnight knock, all the world's dictators will have been taught a lesson against sponsoring terror, and the accidents and setbacks of war will more easily be accepted. Those opinion-polled on the issue back in February will barely remember the "vote" against war they registered while rushing for the number 12 bus.


Selective democracy - don't we love it! Public opinion is only meaningful when it agrees with the government. And won't we all be happy when we can more easily accept collateral damage, dead civilians, dead journalists, soldiers killed by their own weapons....

meanwhile, the war is actually still going on, and one of its warriors had this to say: "They seem to have come to Iraq for their summer vacation to kill American, British and Australian soldiers," said Brigadier-General John Kelly, assistant commander of the 1st Marine Division. "They appear willing to die. We are trying our best to help them out in that endeavour."


By the way: are the soldiers being given mood-altering drugs? Most statements coming from US military in the field are sounding euphoric - euphoric about killing other people - and in a civilian context they would probably be accused of being sociopaths. I'm actually asking out of concern. I actually do feel sympathy for the people who have to carry out these actions. Maybe in their right minds they wouldn't want to be quoted and recorded as having said these things. It's bad enough what they have to do, without the world remembering those sorts of comments afterwards.

The follwing was sent by Damien and I also found it on Ultramonkey:


The British speech (Lt.Col Tim Collins): If you are ferocious in battle, remember to be magnanimous in victory, We go to liberate, not to conquer. We are entering Iraq to free a people, and the only flag that will be flown in that ancient land is their own. Don't treat them as refugees, for they are in their own country. If there are casualties of war, then remember, when they woke up and got dressed in the morning they did not plan to die this day. Allow them dignity in death. Bury them properly and mark their graves. You will be shunned unless your conduct is of the highest, for your deeds will follow you down history. Iraq is steeped in history. It is the site of the Garden of Eden, of the Great Flood and the birth of Abraham. Tread lightly there.


The US speech (Vice Admiral Timothy Keating): When the president says 'Go', look out - it's hammer time

Counterpoint: I think the feelings of the people below are the ones I really care about. Am I unpatriotic? Tell you me what you think after you read about this (warning: the first link has a photo which is very upsetting):



Iraqi doctors say bombing more lethal than in Iran-Iraq war and first Gulf War - "This is a disaster because they're attacking civilians. We are receiving a lot of civilian casualties"


shortage of anaesthetics -
patients in Baghdad hospitals having amputations without sufficient anaesthesia