BAL-LA AL MOUSS

[bemildred]

The problem is that the resistance is getting stronger. More U.S. (military and civilian) deaths are occurring. More stooge Iraqi personnel (police, national guards, etc.) are being destroyed. In the past 24 hours, 75 Iraqis have been killed and hundreds wounded in attacks. And, seven U.S. Marines have been killed in the past 48 hours.

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Let's look at this from an Arab point of view. A couple of hours ago, an Iraqi-American friend visited me. He called the occupation and resistance, "bal-la al mouss." Then he explained, "This means someone who has a razor in his throat. He can not spit it out and he can not swallow it." A great analogy. I would say, "fucked if he does and fucked if he doesn't." Which ever of the three terms one chooses, it is apparent that the U.S. is cornered in Iraq and will be for some time.

The resistance has led many people to write about its origins. I have stated many times my assessment that it was planned well before March 2003 by the Ba'ath leadership. However, some armchair leftists have said that it had nothing to do with the Baathists and was an impromptu uprising. They do not take into account, however, that it is well-funded, well-organized and well-armed. These factors are not present in any resistance that springs up out of nowhere.

I think it was well planned beforehand for two reasons, first that they said so, and second because this is "VietNam on steroids", because the progress of this war is very fast as occupation resistance wars go.

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On April 8, 2003, Mohamed Sahaff, the Iraqi Information Minister, was holding a press conference in Baghdad. A reporter pointed out that U.S. troops were already in Baghdad. Sahaff looked and spotted a U.S. tank and stated, "We’ve got them right where we want them." Then he walked away. Despite universal ridicule about his statement, Sahaff stuck to his proclamation. Nobody is laughing today about the Iraqi Information Minister’s declaration.

La Gauche is Right