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Dear Pervaiz sahib,
I have copied below
Margolis, most recent article on the American empire building misdeeds.
Since we are currently discussing the American imperialism on this forum,
it may be a good idea to post this article for a few of our friends,
including Peter Joyce, who are in total denial about the American terrorism
around the world to expand its imperialism and maintain the global
supremacy for as long as there is no effective and powerful opposition to
challenge the American hegemony as it drools over the oil fields.
Regards,
Javed I.
__________________________________________________________________
U.S.
influence in Iraq
far from over
By ERIC MARGOLIS
1st March 2009
Barack Obama won the
votes of many Americans by promising to swiftly end the Iraq War and bring U.S. troops
home. He denounced George W. Bush's invasion of Iraq as a "violation of
international law."
So will U.S. troops leave Iraq? Will those responsible
for this trumped-up war face justice?
No, on both counts.
President Obama says U.S. combat troops will leave Iraq by
August 2010. However, the U.S.
military occupation will not end. What we are seeing is a public relations
shell game.
The U.S. has 142,000 soldiers and nearly 100,000
mercenaries occupying Iraq.
Obama's plan calls for withdrawing the larger portion of the U.S. garrison but leaving 50,000-60,000
troops in Iraq.
To get around his
promise to withdraw all "combat" troops, the president and his
advisers are rebranding the stay-behind garrison as "training troops,
protection for American interests, and counterterrorism forces."
At a time when the U.S. is bankrupt and faces a $1.75 trillion
deficit, the Pentagon's gargantuan $664 billion budget (50% of total global
military spending) will grow in 2009 and 2010 by another $200 billion to
pay for the occupation of Iraq
and Obama's expanded war in Afghanistan.
Throw in another $40 billion to $50 billion for the CIA and other
intelligence agencies.
Obama insists the U.S. will withdraw from Iraq. But
his words are belied by the Pentagon, which continues to expand bases in Iraq,
including Balad and Al-Asad,
with 4,400-metre runways for heavy bombers and transports.
AIR BRIDGE
They are key links in
the U.S. Air Force's new air bridge that extends from Germany to Bulgaria
and Romania, Iraq and the Gulf, then onward to Afghanistan and Central
Asia.
Besides Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone and U.S. embassy (the world's largest), the
Pentagon reportedly wants to retain 58 permanent bases in Iraq (by comparison, there are 36 in South Korea), total control of its air space
and immunity from Iraqi law for all U.S. troops.
The U.S. also will retain major bases in neighbouring Kuwait,
Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and Diego Garcia. U.S. oil companies are moving in to exploit Iraq's vast energy reserves, the Mideast's
second largest after Saudi
Arabia.
U.S. troop levels will remain high during Iraq's
December elections to ensure "security," according to the Pentagon.
In other words, ensuring the U.S.-selected regime "wins" the
vote. Iraqi parties, notably Baath, opposing the U.S. occupation, are banned
from running. Many Iraqis believe the U.S. will never leave their
nation.
In short, contrary to
all Obama's high-blown rhetoric about pulling out of Iraq, Washington
clearly intends it will remain a U.S. military, political and
economic protectorate. Washington is
following exactly the same control model the British Empire used to rule Iraq, and
exploit its oil: Install a figurehead ruler, keep him in power using a
"native" army (read today's Iraqis army and police). RAF units
based in Iraq (read U.S. air
bases) bomb any rebellious areas. Smaller British ground units based in
non-urban areas are on call to put down attempted coups against the king.
The U.S. plan for Iraq is
identical.
Obama made clear that
officials responsible for the Iraq war, torture, kidnapping
or assassination will not be prosecuted. The theft of over $50 billion in U.S. "reconstruction" funds sent
to Iraq
is being hushed up.
By contrast, Britons
are demanding release of cabinet documents leading to war
that are likely to expose Tony Blair's lies and illegalities.
BYGONES
There is no
corresponding call for justice in the United States. Obama tells the
public, let bygones be bygones. Unless, of course, it's Osama bin Laden.
Between 600,000 and
one million Iraqis died as a result of President George W. Bush's
aggression, which cost nearly $1 trillion and some 4,500 U.S. dead.
Four million Iraqis remain refugees. The U.S. holds over 20,000 Iraqi
political prisoners.
Mr. President, this is
not a bygone. It's a historic crime that demands justice. Keep your word
about withdrawing from Iraq.
Enough with the Bush doubletalk.
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