Tension Mounts as Antiwar Movement Challenges Dems' Commitment to Stop the War

[Toots]

Tension Mounts as Antiwar Movement Challenges Dems' Commitment to Stop the War

This really is a very good article and has so much stuff in it I really didn't know which parts to post. Great insight into what is happening in our government..

http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/51687

The Democrats' endorsement of this crude neocolonial exploitation plan makes them accomplices in the occupation, and further legitimizes the insurgency.
<snip>
So maybe Reid and Pelosi really are working the phones on this one, who knows. What I do know is this; there are elements of the Democratic-crafted Iraq supplemental that are not only severely regressive but would actually tend to encourage the continuation of the insurgency. Anyone who wants an example of why the areas in which the Democrats and Republicans are in agreement are more significant than the ones in which they differ need only look at the two parties nearly unanimous endorsement of the "Benchmarks" the Iraqi government must meet, according to the supplemental. The key passage reads as follows:

(2) whether the Government of Iraq is making substantial progress in meeting its commitment to pursue reconciliation initiatives, including a hydro-carbon law...

It is notable that the hydrocarbon law comes in first place in this clause, ahead of "legislation necessary for the conduct of provincial and local elections," reform of de-Baathification laws, amendments to the constitution and allocation of revenues for reconstruction projects. For whether or not it really was "all about oil" at the beginning of the war, the fate of the occupation really does hinge almost entirely upon oil initiatives now, as the continued presence of U.S. troops in the region may depend on whether or not the Iraqi government bites the bullet and decides to eat the proposed hydrocarbon law in question.
<snip>

The proposed Hydrocarbon Law is a result of pressure from the American government on the Iraqis to draft an oil policy that would adhere to the IMF guidelines. It allows foreign companies to take advantage of Iraqi oil fields by allowing regions to pair up with foreigners using what are known as "production-sharing agreements" or PSAs, which guarantee investing companies large shares of the profits for decades into the future. The law also makes it impossible for the Iraqi state to regulate levels of oil production (seriously undermining OPEC), allows oil companies to repatriate profits, and would also allow companies to hire foreign workers to man facilities. Add all the measures up and the Hydrocarbon law not only takes control of the oil industry away from the Iraqi state, but virtually guarantees that the state will profit very little from future oil exploitation.

Now, I live in America and have been known to drive a car occasionally and I also understand something else -- when mighty industrial countries need oil or anything else, they're going to take it. They're also unlikely to acquiesce forever to the whims of an organization like OPEC out of mere morality and decency, when military power can change the equation. Anyone who's going to be shocked, shocked by this kind of shit had better be prepared to live in a tent and eat twigs and berries instead of African cocoa or Central American sugar or any of the millions of other products we basically steal from hungry, dark-skinned people around the world on a daily basis. But I'll tell you what I can do without. I can do without having to listen to American journalists, as well as politicians on both sides of the aisle, bitch and moan about how the Iraqi government better start "shaping up" and "taking responsibility" and "showing progress" if they want the continued blessing of American military power. Virtually every major newspaper in the country and every hack in Washington has lumped all the "benchmarks" together, painting them as concrete signs that, if met, would mean the Iraqi government is showing "progress" or "good faith."

"President Bush will not support a war spending bill that punishes the Iraqi government for failing to meet benchmarks for progress," was how the AP put it.

[RapidCreek]

1. An absolutely magnifigant article

I'm amazed it's in print, to be honest. It's encouraging to know that somebody else sees what's actually going on. I've been saying this for three years and I've said it on this board, only to be completely ignored or hit over the head with the latest cable news talking points. It would be nice if someone like Olbermann would paint such a clear picture...I guess I'm expecting a bit much out of MSNBC though.

Thanks so much for posting this jewel.

Peace and Inner Harmony.

RC

[Bandit]

2. Wow ... just wow ...incredible article

Makes one almost want to cry..:shrug:

[Forkboy]

3. K&R

And the hope that people read the whole thing.It's excellent.

[Cults4Bush]

4. This was the hammer meet nail quote for me

"If they viewed the war as much of the world did, as a murderous and profoundly immoral criminal enterprise, they would understand that morally, they really have no choice now but to refuse to send Bush even a dime more for this war. After all, it's impossible to justify on any level voting to give George Bush more money for more troops "in the short run" if you believe that the occupation is fundamentally evil and exploitative. But the Democrats clearly do not believe it is wrong. They don't even mind having a big hand in it. They just don't think it's going very well, and understand that in the long run, it's a non-starter politically."

..and that is the whole freaking truth no matter what the blind faithers and apologist on any (yes much much more than two) sides to this unholy clusterF*ck.

Whats more is they cant keep using the tired and untrue "we cantleave, it will descend into chaos" crap. They want us gone the politicos over there want a freaking timeline and want us gone, we havent been doing good things over there, our intentions were malicious from the onset and there was never and is never going to be honor had from this war. WHo the fuck are any of these people to think they know whats better for the Iraqis than the Iraqis themselves... WHo are they to insist that they meet our benchmarks... who are they to hold feet to the fire ... why they are the fascist oil thieving occupiers, our duly elected reps from both sides of the aisle.

We are the cause, not Saddam and his evil offspring, not Sadr and his militia, not the morphing presence of AQ (honestly Zarqawi had a couple of holes up north with the Kurds in an area we could have air assaulted and cleaned up the entire operation there in one fell swoop).

We can leave that place because they want us to! A majority of pols and civilians want us gone. Defund the war and set the timeline now! Anything else is BS for more violence, rape and theft... that we are the cause of.

[BeFree]

5. Great

Attacking the Dems again. Well, only about half the dems are warmongers and all the pukes are. But what do they do? Attack dems. Gawd.

"The Democrats' endorsement of this crude neocolonial exploitation plan makes them accomplices in the occupation, and further legitimizes the insurgency."

[Toots]

8. If you would rather cover up their actions then how can you say we are any better than Republican

What makes us any better if we just shut up and let them rape another nation just because they are Democrats. We are supposed to stand up first and formost for right not for Democrats. It happens most Democrats say the right things but in reality how do they act and why should we just be quiet about it? I want accountability. I don't want to just be on the current winning side. I want truth and justice to prevail. Apparently to you that is not a Democratic goal...You call asking for truth and justice from a Democrat to be bashing...It would only be bashing if it were a lie..:shrug: Or do you mind that we are killing people for their oil?

[AtomicKitten]

6. If Dems would only embrace the truism

that ending the war is not only the right thing to do, it is their mandate. And since the majority of Americans are :thumbsdown: on Iraq, as it turns out it is the best political move as well. It is the trifecta of why Dems must extricate the US from Iraq tout de suite.

On edit: I, however, think the Dems are between a rock and a hard place not having a filibuster-proof majority, so extrication from Iraq is most definitely much easier said than done.

[RapidCreek]

7. kick