Abuse video fuels Arab fury at West

[leftchick]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060213/ts_nm/iraq_britain_abuse_arabs_dc

DUBAI (Reuters) - Arab fury at the West intensified on Monday after images of British soldiers apparently beating Iraqi youths were aired in a region already inflamed by caricatures of the Prophet Mohammad.

<snip>

They also said the beatings, which occurred in 2004 and were publicized by a British newspaper on Sunday, exposed the ugly side of Britain's presence in Iraq despite its efforts to put a "friendly face" on the occupation.

"This beating is all part of the same war on Islam that the West is carrying out these days," said Egyptian traffic policeman Gamal Bashir. "The (Prophet Mohammad) cartoons are part of the same war too."

The English-language Bahrain Tribune said the video could not have been aired at a worse time. "The Arab and Muslim world is already sitting on a powder keg over the offensive cartoons."

"The illusion of the British being a friendly force is no longer there. The grainy video has exposed the deep-seated animosity they too have for the Iraqis," it said.

[bemildred]

1. "This could spin out of control" -- Condoleeza Rice. nt

[awoke_in_2003]

8. does that silly woman

really think things are under control now?

[bemildred]

11. As a good bureaucrat, she knows you never admit otherwise ... nt

[meganmonkey]

2. It's all coming together perfectly, isn't it?

For bombing Iran in a month. Tension building, tempers flaring, attitudes solidifying.

I can't even deal with this, leftchick! :cry:

I hope the Iran attack will bring Americans out in the streets. We need a strike. A huge, general strike. Every city, every town. Nothing will ever change until we put all of our other priorities on hold and realize we will NEVER move forward until we stop the momentum of the PNAC killing machine.

[leftchick]

5. if they do indeed bomb Iran

It will indeed be hell on earth for us all. I can not take it either megan. :cry:

[okieinpain]

20. just plan it so it doesn't interfere with american idol and you might

get some of them to show up.....

[meganmonkey]

21. Gee, that's reassuring!

:P

[sadiesworld]

26. I guess all the dem politicians are busy with American Idol as well...

cause I sure as hell don't see any of them leading the charge.

[caledesi]

27. Totally agree MM...we gotta start "cracking" nt

[htuttle]

3. Notice how they blame the 'video', and not the abuse itself?

As if the video had never existed, there'd be no problems...

[rodeodance]

10. yes, as Bushco did--they blamed the release of the torture pics in US

[ninkasi]

18. Right, htuttle

It's the video's fault, not the actions the video captured. And they still try to pretend that other people "hate us for our freedoms." No, I'd say they hate us for invading their countries, killing their people, and destroying everything they have. How would Americans feel if we had been invaded by a Muslim country because of a lie their leader told, and we were subjected to the same kind of treatment?

Rice is an idiot, but I think that's a requirement for employment in the Bush cabal. That, and a complete lack of common decency.

[Coastie for Truth]

4. Nobody has a monopoly

Note: British Soldiers, not American or Israeli.

Also, as good Progressives (I have always subliminally identified "Progressive" as an individual with intellectual curiosity and a solid Liberal Arts type education who reads widely and is aware of history and nuances), one should be aware of which "Colonial Masters" began the systematic colonialization and imperialism in the region ---

1)
2)
3) "Sowing the Wind: The Seeds of Conflict in the Middle East" by John Keay
4) "A Century Of War: Anglo-American Oil Politics and the New World Order" by F. William Engdahl


None of these works is dispositive - I just cite them for some leads to get you started

[Igel]

6. If it leads to violence, is broadcasting the video

"incitement to violence"? I think not; I think it might be a matter of poor judgment and timing.

But I'd expect a fair number of other DUers to be forced into the claim "incitement to violence" claim.

[bloom]

7. From 2004

Well I think it's pretty odd timing - to bring it out now - as attacking Iran is being hyped up.

There is the "incitement (Muslims) to violence aspect" and there is also the aspect that it reminds Americans (who hate the Iraq war anyway) - just how disgusting it is. Are they inciting us to violence/to demonstrations as well? Why would they do that?

[leftchick]

9. not odd at all

intentional. :(

[fedsron2us]

23. Story broken by 'The News Of The World'

Owner, one Rupert Murdoch.

[leftchick]

24. what story?

are you talking about?

[fedsron2us]

25. Here it is

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/

http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/story_pages/news/news1.shtml

The paper is part of Murdoch's News International stable of British papers which includes the London Times. The whistleblower was paid for his video. This tape has been knocking about since 2004 so it is a moot point why the paper has decided to publish it now, particularly as it will inevitably exacerbate already inflamed tensions in the Muslim world. The decision will not have been taken without authorisation from the Dirty Digger himself so I naturally wonder what is his game. It can not be a sudden out break of concern for Iraqis since he has always supported the war. British soldiers kicking the shit out of civilians in Iraq, Northern Ireland or on the streets of Britain's garrison towns for that matter is not exactly a new phenomenon and the UK's MOD has already made a number of prosecutions against soldiers for similar abuses in the past year. I think someone is keen to keep the pot in the Middle East on the boil.

[Spankydem]

12. Great post....

one question....

SINCE I'm furious over the BEHEADING of innocent people.....when can I ask about these practices?

[xchrom]

15. gee -- if great britain and the u.s. hadn't illegally started a war

with iraq -- maybe those innocent people would still be alive?

[Bandit]

16. How many beheadings were there as compared to number of Iraqi

Women and children that have been mutilated by US military. Remember not one of these Soldiers are shooting at uniformed enemy. They are killing civilians. How many Iraqi men have been beaten and killed while their hands were tied. Be pissed but be pissed at the right people.

[Spankydem]

17. I AGREE.....

doesnt mean you cant be pissed at both.

[meganmonkey]

19. Okay, so start a thread about it

instead of hijacking one about something totally different.

Welcome to DU, btw.

[genie_weenie]

28. Hmmm "shooting at uniformed enemy"?

I think the Napoleonic Wars with matching lines of infantry, dragoons, are artillerists decked out in their resplendent wartime uniforms is over...

The terrible truth is this is what WAR is, War destroys lives, shatters limbs, scars minds and obliterates morals. Here's what happens: Faced day in and day out with the prospect of being killed by a mortar or an IED or seeing your mates killed, not knowing where the enemy is or who has a remote detonator. Being thrust into a foreign land by your political superiors without a say-so. Eating terrible food, no authorized sex, infrequent showers (or no showers in the beginning), this adds up to outbursts like this.

Of course, some people in the military are just jerks. Violent psychopaths who enjoy violence and inflicting pain.

[951-Riverside]

13. Took them long enough to show some sort of reaction

This is much more serious than those stupid cartoons

[JNelson6563]

14. What a nightmare.

There are no "good guys" on "our" side of this war.

Julie

[JohnyCanuck]

22. I have to wonder how many other similar (or worse) incidents

have taken place which weren't videotaped or for which the videotapes just haven't surfaced yet.

If this latest incident was just reported as an allegation by Iraqi teenagers and young men that they had received severe beatings at the hands of British troops, with no videotape evidence to back the allegations, you can be sure it would have been easily blown off in the media and by Phony Tony and the British Army as just an unsubstantiated rumour with no evidence behind it, the work of disaffected youth and Iraqi insurgents and rabble rousers trying to stir up hatred and animosity against Iraq's well-meaning and altruistic liberators etc. etc. etc.