Ten Fallacies About the Violence in Iraq
The distortions about the violence in Iraq persist even as the mayhem increases. Here are ten of the worst myths being spread in the media.The escalating violence in Iraq’s civil war is now earning considerable attention as we pass yet another milestone — U.S. occupation there, in two weeks, will exceed the length of the Second World War for America. While the news media have finally started to grapple with the colossal amount of killing, a number of misunderstandings persist. Some are wilful deceptions.
Let’s look at a few of them:.
thanks, this is a great article…I have forwarded it to my ‘doubting’ family members who debate me on this very issue all the time…
I recently had the following letter published in the Toowoomba Chronicle:
“The old adage says that if you are digging a hole in the wrong place, the only sensible thing to do is to stop digging!
So John W. Howard agrees with George W. Bush that it would be a good idea to dig even deeper in Iraq; escalating the violence in order to reduce the violence. And they both “accept responsibility” (whatever that means) for the “mistakes”.
On one hand, they say, it would be more than just a public-relations disaster for the Westerners to get out of the ugly hole they have been digging in Iraq, so they will keep at it. On the other hand, dissenting voices are now going to call even louder for the digging to stop, leaving the bloody mess for someone else to clean up.
Well how about using some imagination and looking for a third way?
What about the radical notion of filling in the hole and cleaning up the mess?
Now that so much damage has been done, this would require courage, patience and sacrifice of another kind. I, for one, would put up my hand to go and help.
What about a bi-partisan, multi-lateral, respectful and non-violent approach to all parties to agree to stop the killing for now in exchange for an opportunity to speak together about grievances, ambitions, and reconciliation with all possibilities on the table? Such talks would be empty if not backed by genuine respect, honesty and a willingness to work towards justice for all.
Maybe the “credibility” of the Western coalition would be improved if it was to offer the more than $70 billion that is currently spent every month on bullets and bombs to fund genuine truth, reconciliation and rebuilding.
Such an approach may not succeed, but the current approach has certainly failed.”
cheers and peace