July 12, 2006

• .
• what sugarmilktea said
• It's amazing, isn't it, when you can read the thoughts of a citizen of a country that your country has invaded and occupied, or even just fought a war in. I can't imagine this has happened in the past. It's also heartbreaking, but worth the pain- especially since their pain is so much worse. The soldiers involved in the rape and murders are probably sociopaths. But the US provided them a venue for their atrocities, and the atrocities at Abu Gharaib, etc. And, the US, in our official military actions, have killed so many who weren't involved in any nefarious doing. That, I think, makes us sociopaths as well, which the rest of the world probably figured out some time ago. Riverbend and the other Iraqi bloggers I read have pretty much lost hope. If these smart, secular people have given us up, one can see how those Iraqis without access to the outside world would want to wipe us out. But, no one here is going to the barricades to protest. Where's the SNCC when we need them? *Feeling depressed and hopeless*
• This, from onother Iraqi blogger can give you an idea of what they're experiencing: The fearsome nights are stifling us and we now have come to hate the Fall [of Baghdad]; we hate Liberation; we hate Sunnis; we hate Shiites; we hate turbans and sidaras [Baghdadi head gear – a reference to Adnan al-Dulaimi a ‘Sunni’ politician]; we hate Jihad and Jihadists, resistance and resistors; we hate concrete; we hate streets and sidewalks; we hate the Ministries; we hate Establishments; we hate news channels and news and communiqués; we hate the Parliament that has now become a venue for swearing-in ceremonies and nothing else; we hate songs; we hate commercials; we hate newspapers; we hate cars and car-depots; we hate conferences; we hate ‘surprise visits’; we hate neighboring countries; we hate the ‘multinational forces; we hate the night; we hate the day; we hate Summer; we hate the sun that sends hell; we hate sleep; we hate water and electricity; we hate petrol and corruption and theft; we hate sectarianism; we hate sectarian ‘allocations’; we hate Reconciliation; we hate the government of national unity; we hate committees and Commissions of Integrity, Trash, Rehabilitation and Silliness; we hate [political] parties and organizations; we hate assemblies, demonstrations, banners and chants; we hate laughter; we hate crying; we hate work; we hate study; we hate each other. And we hate ourselves. But (and this is our problem) we still love something that was called Iraq. "Will you save what is left of this Iraq?"
• this is so incredibly depressing. having just spent 5 days in Las Vegas I am overwhelmed with the sense that humans are doomed by their own actions. The geopolitical situation is stunning, the economy seems a mere accident or two from complete collapse (which is already having a wonderful crime-intensifying effect on my "marginal" neighborhood) there are parts of Antarctica with no ice cover...and all weekend I looked around at fat, complacent zombies who cared only to play, spend, eat, deny.... ugh.
• .................................
• Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change... People in Las Vegas will continue to push the envelope of decadence. People in Baghdad will continue to suffer and die, regardless of origin. People who are gifted with peaceful, prosperous lives will continue to actively ignore much of the rest of the world. People who see the ruin of what we do will continue to be ignored. The courage to change the things that I can... Vote. Donate. Volunteer. Speak. Act, when possible and legal and ethical. Love always. And the wisdom to know the difference. A flippant, feel-good add-on. Quit while you're ahead, Niebuhr.
• Most depressing of all is the suspicion that, as long as there is oil under the sands of Iraq or anywhere else in the region, the Americans will never completely withdraw. They've established their long-desired permanent forward operating base in the Middle East. The continuing insurgency is a useful excuse for keeping troops in place. There may be a significant reduction in troop numbers over the coming months and years but the U.S. is there to stay, consequences be damned. If gasoline and other taxes were raised to a level reflecting the costs of the war and it's reparations, the complacent U.S. citizenry might finally get off it's collective fat ass and take notice. But that's not likely to happen.
• As a fromer Berkeley radical, I find it sad that we can't find a cause in the travails of the Iraqi people. When millions of people banded together in the 60s and 70s to change discrimination against blacks and to protest the war in Vietnam, they did things many would think they couldn't change according to that philosophy. And, they did have the wisdom to know the difference, it turns out. Seems like a great excuse for inaction, Ralph.
• =former.
• I eamiled her this morning. What can you say? All I could do ws apologize to her while she is still with us.
• Last night my partner had a brain snap and started screaming at the TV. We were watching a current affairs program called Dateline, which runs on the national station SBS down here in Oz. It was story after story of death, death, rape, injustice, denial, death. The Isreal-Palestine-Lebanon situation, in particular, made him go crazy. He was sobbing and screaming and had what I guess was a small breakdown of sorts. The only thing I could say or believe is that they only thing people like us can do-- well educated, priveledged Westerners with space and freedom and time-- the only thing we can do is be aware, observe, highlight what is happening, talk to people about it, maintain our disgust at the injustice but never, never be broken by it. We can only be bystanders in these situations, but we must be responsible as such. We must learn as much as we can so we can teach as much as we can. We must be conscious and publicly so. In Real Terms, none of us can stop the next Iraqi, Isreali, Palestinean death. We cannot prevent even the next hundred in those areas torn apart by war and violence. But we can watch and not turn away, we can stay vocal and keep our feet on the ground, and help others do the same, so that a swell is formed, and then a wave. I don't think this advice helped my partner-- he who is so calm and never loses his cool-- but I know that anger at the situation, at the people who cause it, does not help. These situations have enough anger attached to them already, and I refuse to add my own illogical fury to it. I can only add the best I have: my intellect and my calm disgust at such distressing situations. I can only hold onto my idea that knowing and helping others to know is the only solution.
• How did this make the front page? Aren't there any reality tv shows to talk about?
• Yea, Flitter, it's amazing isn't it? Talk about providing the masses with bread and circus.
• For us non-USA citizens, the 'usual' response to this when discussing with those that do care, is the advice to vote out the bastards whose policies directly or indirectly cause these atrocities. But as my own country's latest events show, voting seems to be overrated...
• Make it stop. Stop the American War Machine. Look, when the americans filter the news so that other americans think everything is working well, then something is stupidly wrong. /once again embarrassed to be american
• .
• 'Tis called propaganda. By some. It means advertizing your side as both being wronged and always being right. *doublethinks* *has headache*
• How much worse can it get? Agh. Don't ask.
• . Fuck. I tried to think of something to say besides ., but everything comes up short.
• Is here a way to make more people read this? You know, the people mentioned above, watching reality tv, gambling, etc. Maybe project in on a wall in a public space or something? You know, break down the walls of denial. Show the 'stay the course' crowd what the course actually is. Btw - where did all those apologists go?
• they sent their excuses
• I considered sending it to my Senators and Congressmen, but I'm pretty sure it would end up in their secretaries' junkmail folders.
• I usually refrain from the . comment, but this was one of the first times I honestly felt justified in using it. I have heard similar stories from a former Iraqi colleague who has been back in Iraq since last year. All of it makes me sick, and surely it will only get worse. Thanks for posting Chy.
• Is here a way to make more people read this? Two words: Chain Mail.
• Chain mails, leaflets, URLs left in napkins at coffehouses: sadly, while those can be effective, it's until this kind of horrors reach the popular mass media (CNN, 'non-indy' major newspapers) when the general public can be persuaded to at least consider believing it. Otherwise, it's dissed as 'tinfoiler-wacko' fluff.
• Been reading Riverbend's blog for years.(literally) I introduced it to conservative relatives. The response? AlQueda propaganda. The America "right or wrongers" aren't going to change. A RECENT poll indicated more than half the U.S. troops in Iraq still believe Sadam was a key figure in the 9/11 attack. - No, I can't link the poll. But odds are I saw the link here or meta.
• Some of the other Iraqi bloggers expressed suspicion of Riverbend early on, but it was based on the likelyhood that she was a Ba'athist. She certainly is too secular to be involved with Al Quaida - hates the restrictions imposed on women by the fundamentalist Islamics. If Al Quaida wanted a spokesperson, I think she'd be the last one they would pick. I've just always though of her as a person dealing with an impossible situation. And, it has struck me that the US "right or wrongers" have a lot in common with the Middle eastern fundamentalists, except for the suicide bombs. If we could break through the barrier these US fundamentalists have about recognizing that there are other opinions in the world, and they were willing to consult with the rest of us, they might give us good advice on how to diffuse the same tendency in Iraq, etc. On the other hand, their advice might just be "nuke em all."
• Amazing. I was just speaking to someone on the Air Force base, (where I work)and their comment was that these men were probably to be excused for the harsh conditions they had to work in. GIMMIE. A. BREAK. This sucks.
• The fact is, as i posted in another thread, that our actions have totally screwed up the Middle East. Iraq is lost, Afaghanistan is lost, terrorism worldwide is on the rise, the oil crisis worsens, and Saudi Arabia and Egypt will probably be lost. Bush is just sticking it out in Iraq until his term is over so that he can blame it all on his predecesser. /my slashies are back?!
• I certainly don't think the blog is propaganda - there's nothing in it I haven't already read or heard about from more mainstream sources, as a matter of fact. But I don't think it makes a persuasive case for immediate US withdrawal either, much as withdrawal is to be desired.
• Iraq is lost, Afaghanistan is lost ... Saudi Arabia and Egypt will probably be lost Oh come now you probably just left them in your other pants. Try to remember: where was the last place you saw them? The kitchen? It was in the kitchen, wasn't it?
• Isn't it wierd the way that something is always in the last place you look?
• Why - Osama! So THAT'S where you were - on the bookshelf, all along! Oh, you naughty little scamp!
• You could always spam the news: "I think you all know the security in Baghdad is difficult, 2:09 am (7 hours ago) Over 500,000 Clients Liposafe Lipotrexate plus lots more to view http://rubbish>bema]anemone.tidethain.com Ebony Mayer Al-Maliki said the National Reconciliation Higher 40 Sunnis were killed Sunday.Al-Maliki stressed the need to clamp down on since the weekend despite a highly touted Khalilzad said there are factors that lead him to I received a stream of spam last night - all with snippets of Iraqi news attached. It seems to be ongoing and persistent (which would make perfect sense). Though I'm not sure how Liposafe ties in...
• and you don't want to know.
• You think you've got troubles? More from Riverbend. The latest had me on the edge of tears, but keep on reading.