Iraq, ten years on

Shock and awe - 10 years on

It is ten years since the U.S. led invasion force launched the shock and awe campaign against Iraq in the fight against terror and search for weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and are things really any better today than they were then?

Just this week another car bomb has gone off killing ten people in Basra, the former temporary home of the British troops and a recent article in the Guardian told of the now infamous sledgehammer man who tried to tear down Saddam's statue, a story of regret. He claimed that once the people of Iraq had but one dictator to deal with but that now they have hundreds. Presumably he was talking of private defence contractors such as XE, formerly Blackwater and other construction companies (Halliburton)  and the rest of the military industrial complex, that have made millions of dollars off of the back of the suffering of the Iraqi people in the name of 'New Democracy', freedom and western safety.

The British mainstream press have also been focussing on the issue of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and the debilitating affect it has had on those troops that have been fortunate enough to make it home from their numerous tours of an illegal war. Mental illness is a very serious issue and one that seems to have not been dealt with overly well by the military. The BBC news bulletins have regularly featured the issue in the build up to the tenth anniversary and a startling admission from a Navy Psychiatrist that once a soldier exhibits signs of mental disorder they are discharged and tend to slip out of the system. A disgrace for the Ministry of Defence to bare in my opinion.

The issue of PTSD does raise a simple question regarding human nature; if it is human nature to wage war and be aggressive as some commentators like to claim then why is it we have so many war veterans suffering with the affects of war on their minds?

The latest push regarding PTSD comes against the background of the increasing use of drones in war, enacted by the Bush administration and then ratified and used exponentially under the Nobel Peace winning administration of Barack Obama. If Malcolm X was unimpressed with Martin Luther King, Jr winning the same award because there was still war, I wonder what he would have made about giving it to a man who thinks that indiscriminately bombing another country from the comfort of your arm chair and an X-box controller is OK?

The coalition bring down the statue

The BBC have also been stating the number of people that have died in the conflict so far.

Between 2003 and 2009, when the war is meant to have ended, 179 British service personnel have died. Depending where you look the civilian death toll varies. The Iraq Body Count website has the figure at somewhere between 111,762 and 122,224 civilian deaths with a further 12,000 to be added subject to a Wikileaks document. On a BBC news broadcast earlier today they mentioned it could be as high as 650,000 but called this an 'upper estimate'. The true number is unknown to us and in the past the figures have wrestled with the term 'enemy combatants' as they have been unable to be sure whether some of the people they have massacred were indeed the supposed enemy or not. Are they not still humans?

This strange world view of polarising people is one that has been difficult to shake myself in the past. The saying is that "one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter." It seems if you throw up a tent on the streets of London to protest against a corrupt system you get labelled a terrorist. Throw up a military base in downtown Baghdad and kill a few hundred thousand people and they call you a liberation force. I wonder what people in the West would do if an aggressor launched a devastating bombing campaign, destroying schools and levelling our infrastructure, before sending in an invading force, setting up check points and pulling our families out of our own homes at gun point?

Thanks to Hollywood I do not have to wonder, they have done it for me.

The latest action movie churned out of the special effects factory line was Red Dawn, a remake of a 1980's Patrick Swayze movie. One thing that stood out about the film, aside from the fact they swapped the Chinese as military force for a North Korean army backed by Russia, was a quote from the main character: "I am gonna fight. It's easier for me, because I've done it before. The rest of you are gonna have a tougher choice. I'm not gonna sell it, it's too ugly for that. These soldiers don't want to be here. For them this is some place, for us it's our home. When you fight in your backyard it makes just a little more sense, and hurts a little less."

They could have been talking about the insurgents in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The only people who have benefited from these wars are the defence contractors and engineering companies who have had to rebuild the infrastructure we destroyed searching for something that was not there. What price will they be willing to pay to justify their next war?

The Obama Deception

I must have felt a disturbance in the force because it is 4am and I am up and staring at a screen almost over come with emotion at the herd of sheep blindly applauding a man that has brought more war, death and destruction to this planet than his predecessor and deceived just about every human on the planet the last four years. I of course am talking about the actor in charge of America, allegedly, Barack Obama.

Where does one start.

His State of the Union address was quite possibly one of the most uncomfortable experiences I have had since one of his pre-election speeches back in 2007 where he claimed he would finish the fight with the Taliban, close Guantanamo Bay and restore Habeas Corpus. The last time I checked the so called war on terror was still being fought, Guantanamo Bay is still open for business and Habeas Corpus had just about been torn up for toilet paper on New Years Eve 2011 with the signing of the National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA) which he claimed was "unconstitutional" and "un-American" yet still signed.


"For the first time in nine years, there are no Americans fighting in Iraq. For the first time in two decades, Osama bin Laden is not a threat to this country. Most of al Qaeda's top lieutenants have been defeated. The Taliban's momentum has been broken, and some troops in Afghanistan have begun to come home"


This does not take into account the numerous private security personnel still operating out there for big private defence contractors such as Academi, formerly Blackwater and is only of course so he can redeploy them in time for the up coming war with iRan. If you doubt this then ask yourself what happened to Gaddafi when he looked at trading oil for gold?


Obama swiftly returned to a more local issue when he started to talk through his vision for the future of America's economy, a well scripted effort where he tried to paint the image of a recovering economy. 


"The state of our Union is getting stronger. And we've come too far to turn back now. As long as I'm President, I will work with anyone in this chamber to build on this momentum"


Unless of course you have had your head in the sand or been on holiday to the dark side of the moon you will know this is a lie. Especially the day after the IMF warned we face a 1930's moment. By this I just assumed they meant depression and a world war?
On the subject of 'economy' as they put it, there are a few things I would like to try and clarify for myself. Firstly it was my understanding that during the 1980's, a vintage time, Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher smashed unions, as the labour workforce was seen as an obstacle to the capitalist model and also industry? Work was outsourced to Asia (check the back of your iPhone) and presumably check the model of your vehicle, Toyota? Honda? This access to the world labour markets drove down production costs and simultaneously increased unemployment and prices at the till? The auto industry in America and the UK was in ruins. Strange then to see that in last nights address Obama managed to utter the words; "Tonight, the American auto industry is back."


He then went on to say;


"My message is simple. It's time to stop rewarding businesses that ship jobs overseas, and start rewarding companies that create jobs right here in America. Send me these tax reforms, and I'll sign them right away."


Obviously it has dawned on someone that if your people have no purchasing power then your economy as they see it is doomed. Another way around this would be to employ two people for every job and maintain the wage but that is a dream, surely?
Never one to leave the Chinese alone for too long he then seemed to single out the Chinese particularly for piracy and imitation of products;


"Tonight, I'm announcing the creation of a Trade Enforcement Unit that will be charged with investigating unfair trade practises in countries like China.

It's not right when another country lets our movies, music, and software be pirated. It's not fair when foreign manufacturers have a leg up on ours only because they're heavily subsidised."

The process of satellite production companies in factories based in China is common place but then what do you expect if you pay children a dollar a day to make your Air Jordans? I would say Obama has bigger problems with China than whether they have fake Apple stores popping up, like their gold for oil trade with iRan as mentioned earlier. This is something the American economy cannot abide with the dollar currently hooked up to a defibrillator awaiting its next cardiac arrest.

"Right now, American oil production is the highest that it's been in eight years. That's right, eight years. Not only that – last year, we relied less on foreign oil than in any of the past 16 years.


Let there be no doubt: America is determined to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon and I will take no options off the table to achieve that goal. But a peaceful resolution of this issue is still possible, and far better, and if Iran changes course and meets its obligations, it can rejoin the community of nations. Our iron-clad commitment to Israel's security has meant the closest military cooperation between our two countries in history."


Right here we have the crux of the upcoming conflict with iRan
The sound of the battle drums beating over iRan and its nuclear threat are a thinly veiled cover for the real reason for aggression towards them, their oil and America's unwavering allegiance to a state perpetrating the very sort of genocide that they have become infamous for, following their treatment at the hands of the Nazi's. It is for this very reason that the people of Israel should rise up against the principles their leaders are trying to justify against a people not so dissimilar to themselves.


The actor supposedly in charge proceeded to enlighten us on the mechanism and philosophy of democracy regarding the two party nation finding common ground, he even managed to sneak a quote in from Abraham Lincoln, trying to convince people of the worth of your vote... Like George Carlin said if you vote, you legitimise what they do to you.

"We need to end the notion that the two parties must be locked in a perpetual campaign of mutual destruction; that politics is about clinging to rigid ideologies instead of building consensus around common sense ideas.

I'm a Democrat. But I believe what Republican Abraham Lincoln believed: That Government should do for people only what they cannot do better by themselves, and no more."


The closing stages of his speech were quite remarkable, the American military efforts in the Middle East were used as metaphor for some kind of great notion of people casting aside differences, to come together as one with common goals. Championing the Seal Team that allegedly killed Osama Bin Laden and comparing their mission to the hands that built America left a bitter taste in the mouth. 


"When you put on that uniform, it doesn't matter if you're black or white, Asian or Latino, conservative or liberal, rich or poor, gay or straight. When you're marching into battle, you look out for the person next to you, or the mission fails.
One of my proudest possessions is the flag that the Seal Team took with them on the mission to get Bin Laden. On it are each of their names. Some may be Democrats. Some may be Republicans. But that doesn't matter. Just like it didn't matter that day in the Situation Room, when I sat next to Bob Gates – a man who was George Bush's defence secretary; and Hillary Clinton, a woman who ran against me for president.

All that mattered that day was the mission. No one thought about politics. No one thought about themselves.... More than that, the mission only succeeded because every member of that unit trusted each other – because you can't charge up those stairs, into darkness and danger, unless you know that there's someone behind you, watching your back.

"So it is with America. Each time I look at that flag, I'm reminded that our destiny is stitched together like those fifty stars and those thirteen stripes. No one built this country on their own. This Nation is great because we built it together. This Nation is great because we worked as a team. This Nation is great because we get each others backs. And if we hold fast to that truth, in this moment of trial, there is no challenge too great; no mission too hard. As long as we're joined in common purpose, as long as we maintain our common resolve, our journey moves forward, our future is hopeful, and the state of our Union will always be strong.

Thank you, God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America."

The 'death' of Osama Bin Laden single handily saved Obama's political career and last night he used it to launch his bid to remain in the White House to oversee another four years. Four more years of lies. Four more years of war. Four more years of death. Four more years of your liberties being signed away to secure greater 'freedoms'.

Source for Obama's speech transcription, The Guardian http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jan/25/state-of-the-union-live

From Iraq, With Love

We have a duty to ensure our governments do not send our troops to unjust wars. If our government does send them out to killed and maimed they have a duty to support and care for them.
Dejavusion Productions and Lucas Media have collaborated to bring you this latest effort 'From Iraq, With Love'.

Enjoy, comment, share.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDbuFVyFMsk&context=C3e77fcfADOEgsToPDskJc_rOiffoZRQfp8R3NE9Ul

Lies My Government Told Me

The Daily Mail has featured an article on the Military Wives Choir who have recently taken to the airwaves with a charity single, made from lines of letters they have sent to their loved ones, fighting in the many theatres of operations that our soldiers, their partners, are currently operating in around the world.
It is the fastest selling single for six years.
The video can currently be found on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/user/militarywiveschoir?v=0hR6O7VxKaQ&feature=pyv&ad=9835277362&kw=military%20wives) if you have not seen or heard it whereby you can make your own mind up about it.

Cameron meets and greets the wives and girlfriends

The article starts by describing the women as beautiful because they are "every day women and mothers in High Street dresses with their roots showing"....yes, it really says this.
You can find the article here - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2076787/Military-Wives-Choirs-Wherever-You-Are-moved-war-widow-mother.html
The military wives choir are compared to celebrity artists, such as the latest X-Factor robots, in that they are a refreshing change from the scam that is the 'charity single'. It comes around every now and then and is performed by the rich and famous every time a bandwagon comes into town. Generally they are people who only do it for the PR that goes with being linked to the current charity bandwagon (yes that means you Paul McCartney, Bono, Robbie Williams, Leona Lewis, Dizzee Rascal, the list is endless and non-exhuastive)

The Daily Mail's article of course used adjectives such as 'brave', 'stoicism', 'resolve' and 'togetherness' to name but a few of the usual emotive words when used by the Daily Propaganda to strengthen the feeling of nationalism within the country.
It is however a subject that must be dealt with carefully.
The wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and moving forward most likely in Iran, have been costly. In a currency sense yes, but more importantly in a physical and moral sense too. Thousands of troops have been injured or killed and millions of innocent civilians have too been injured, killed or displaced through the ravages of war. If by anyway we discredit our troops then we are considered unpatriotic, or tarnished with a brush far worse, yet the reality of it is this; our troops have been sold a lie (as were we all) and their suffering at the hands of successive Governments is a betrayal of their faith and belief in that system. Yet the very women singing their hearts out, for loved ones they might not see again, are seen pictured with the latest war monger and tyrant 'incharge' at 10 Downing Street, shaking hands and all smiles.

Not something I would be doing if given opportunity to meet the Prime Minister. I would not want to get blood on my hands.

More effort should be put in to bringing home the soldiers, men and women, fighting for the billionaire Military Industrial Complex criminals who are trying to secure resources in the name of democracy and liberty and leaving behind them millions of families across the world without their mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters this Christmas.

"War does not determine who is right, war determines who is left" Bertrand Russell

The War Must Go On

The Independent article on our WMD's

The movie 'Lord of War' could not have been more accurate as to the way the Military Industrial Complex works.
On February 25th 2011, the UK trade in arms with current despots, was highlighted once again in various news outlets whilst the Arab Spring protesters were being put down by weapons bought here in the UK. I wrote about this as our countries appetite for war leaves a bad taste. (http://newell-news.blogspot.com/2011/02/uk-arms-dealsfloat-that-economy-people.html)

A few months later in September the arms fair ran with large banquets and a who's who of the International Community. There was a degree of negative publicity over the exposure of the fact that some of the banks bailed out by the public, Lloyds TSB for one, have been funding the research and development of the banned cluster bomb.  The Independent and The Guardian ran lengthy publications about their experience of attempting to buy these weapons of mass destruction from multinational corporations and highlighted the murky world that is the trading of arms. (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/come-and-buy-our-weapons-uk-arms-fair-tells-bahrain-2353647.html)

Unfortunately however this is not a new phenomenon for the UK or Imperialist West.

They have long been dealing with so called despots for the sake of a slice of the economic pie.  A documentary on the 'Top Documentaries' website called 'Flying The Flag' hosted by none other than Investigative Journalist John Pilger, blew open the shameful lengths our Governments have gone to over the years to secure a pound. The documentary first aired nearly 20 years ago and covered our cosy relationship with Saddam Hussein, the fact that this sort of thing still goes on today should lead to such people as Tony Blair and David Cameron being tried for war crimes.

Whilst the working men, women and children of this country go to fight wars in foreign countries for resources (killing other working men, women and children) they risk being killed by people supplied by our Governments, with our own weapons. The war mongers that sent them in the first place stay safe sat in swish hotels, eating caviar, fabricating the next set of lies with the mainstream media on why we should obliterate another country.
It was a brilliant effort by John Pilger who's other great documentary 'The War You Don't See' is also on Top Documentaries and is a recommended viewing.

If this was not enough, whilst you have been reading this America has agreed a $53m arms package with Bahrain to assist it with any foreign aggression. The fact they have been violently oppressing protesters for change since February seems to have gone by the way side. Supplying countries with questionable human rights records seems to be a past time for the Imperial West as Indonesia was involved in the potential purchase of several Typhoon Fighter Jets with the UK back in March.
(http://www.tradearabia.com/news/DEF_206691.html)
(http://www.defencetalk.com/uk-eurofighter-aircraft-indonesia-32692/)
(http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/asia/225939/britain-in-eurofighter-talks-with-indonesia-report)


They say if you are not out raged then you are not paying attention.


(http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/flying-the-flag/)

Wake Up Call

Check out the new video from Lucasmedia in association with Dejavusion.  It is a blend of hard hitting images of a world in turmoil, against the back drop of the soulful tones of Robin Thicke.

Follow the link below and comment, spread the word and look out for more from this innovative group.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZXIl3clEPs

UK Arms Deals...Float that Economy people

"The UK sold arms to 11 of the 15 countries identified by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institue as locations of major armed conflict in 2008...."


"Henry Kissenger said of the Iran-Iraq war that it was a pity that both sides couldn't lose. We did our best to make a destructive draw possible by supplying weapons to both sides"

"...you are never going to be persuasive on civil liberties when you have just brought a junior ministor along to flog a few guns''

-Philip Collins, Opinion, The Times Feb 25th 2011

This, for the people who a) do not buy The Times or b) will not pay £1 a day to view it online on their iPads or HTC mobiles.  Protestors once said that 'Bombing for peace is like f***ing for virginity'. I totally agree.  How can a country like the UK, that has a history of cosying up to war mongering dictators, possibly comment on peoples freedoms or condemn said tyrants when it is their own WMDs being used against the people??
Rant over.