Chris Floyd: No Light, Just Tunnel: The Bipartisan Guarantee of Continuing War in Iraq

[babylonsister]

http://www.atlanticfreepress.com/content/view/2156/1/

No Light, Just Tunnel: The Bipartisan Guarantee of Continuing War in Iraq
Sunday, 12 August 2007
by Chris Floyd

snip//


It may be too late for any kind of accommodation or agreement now. The ruination that Bush and his willing executioners in Congress have brought to Iraq may be irreparable. As for "destabilizing the region," the war crime has already done that. (Indeed, it was one of the aims of the invasion, as its architects and champions once boasted. "Creative destruction" was the phrase used by the very serious Michael Leeden, I believe.) There will be an inevitable escalation of the proxy war between Iran and Saudi Arabia that is now going on the country; but that will happen no matter what. Sectarian violence will also continue to spiral no matter what, with one possible exception: if the Americans leave the country and are no longer there arming the factions, stirring them up, setting one against the other, and killing and imprisoning civilians, thereby radicalizing more and more Iraqis every day. The only possible chance Iraq has to see a lessening of sectarian violence lies in the complete withdrawal of American troops.

What would happen next? Well, I think a windfall profits tax on the oil companies and the weapons peddlers — and the private equity sharks like Carlyle and Wall Street firms and investment banks who have gorged themselves with blood money like big ole ticks on a hand — would produce a very sizable fund for the massive reparations the United States should pay to the Iraqis for destroying their country and murdering their people. Special prosecutors investigating the origins and conduct of the war would also be in order: a Homeland Nuremberg, on national TV — bigger and better than the Watergate hearings!

But we all know that none of that is going to happen. Certainly not the reparations, the investigations and prosecutions — not in a million years, not in the "shining city on a hill." Nor will an American withdrawal — which, as I said, is the only hope Iraq has of lessening the hell that now rages there. The sainted General Petraeus — who has been one of the most egregiously mendacious blowhards touting the war's "success" for years — is now telling U.S. lawmakers that his "surge" strategy will take 9-10 years to work. So anyone relying on Petraeus — as Bush and all the "serious" Republicans are doing — is buying into at least 10 more years of the present situation. And as we outlined above, anyone touting a "residual force" is essentially doing the same thing.

Moreover, the same strategic and economic concerns that motivated the invasion in the first place will still obtain for the next president. In order to "preserve America's sacred way of life," the United States must have privileged access to the world's oil heartlands. The latter will not only allow America to continue using a vastly disproportionate share of the world's energy resources but also be a vital asset in containing the growth of any potential rivals and putting the squeeze on recalcitrant client states (or allies) who get out of line. No president dedicated to maintaining America's global dominance — via a worldwide empire of military bases, a gargantuan war machine surpassing that of any other nation by several magnitudes — can afford to willingly give up control of Iraq to a Shiite majority closely allied with Iran. (Unless of course there is a favorable "regime change" in Tehran.) This is part of the evil genius behind the Bush Regime's invasion of Iraq: it essentially commits any Establishment candidate — one pledged to the aforesaid military-based global dominance (as all of the "serious" candidates of both parties are) — to continuing the Bushists' policies. Now that the Rubicon of invading Iraq has been crossed, there is no going back. Saddam Hussein was a neutral in the war for energy supremacy: he could be counted on to sell his oil to anyone — indeed, the United States was his best customer, even during the sanctions regime, even as Bush was building up his invasion force. But a sectarian-based Iraqi government allied with Iran — or some other unknown quantity seizing power in the vacuum created by the invasion — could very well curtail or cut off the flow to America for ideological reasons. If you are committed to American hegemony, American empire, then you will have to stay militarily involved in Iraq, now that Bush has led America into it. What's more, the logic of imperial geopolitics will lead inexorably to an attack on Iran as well, to secure the now-necessary dominion over Iraq.

Most people persist in believing that the Bush Administration has "mishandled" or "bungled" the war in Iraq, when in fact they have achieved almost all of their goals. (A reality that we have examined here, here and here, among other places.) They have vastly enriched their cronies. They have installed a U.S. military presence in Iraq. They have expanded the size, power and scope of the armed forces and the intelligence services (which now have their own secret armies) beyond the wildest dreams of the most hawkish Cold War militarist. They have not only gutted the Constitution but proved that you can get away with it — an invaluable lesson for dictators to come. And, as noted, they have committed the American Establishment to continuing the radical course they have set in motion — because the Establishment will never allow the election of any candidate who would seek to institute the rollback of the empire and the restoration of genuine constitutional government. Especially as the latter would entail bringing justice to the war makers and the war profiteers, all of them honored stalwarts of the Establishment.

Thus turning over ostensible authority to a "sovereign" Iraqi government was another masterstroke by the Bushists, a truly audacious scam. While still occupying the country and controlling its affairs, the United States has divested itself of the legal responsibilities of an occupying power. The leaders of both parties in Washington are now busy washing their hands of the blood they have shed, putting the onus on the occupied, co-opted and controlled nation to "put its own house in order." But of course, the Iraqis don't own their house anymore; the largest and most powerful armed force in the world is squatting there, and will keep squatting there for years to come, if the "serious" leaders of both parties have their way.

And they will.

[bananas]

1. Reminds me of "All Hat, No Cattle".

"All Tunnel, No Light."
k&r.

[BeHereNow]

2. I don't think the American people will stand for it.

If Americans were still feeling fat and prosperous, I think it would
all go fairly unchallenged- however, the American people are watching
a steady decline in their standard of living. The dollars buy less
and the working hours increase just to survive.
Enlistment by volunteers for military service is laughable at best
and there is NO way unhappy Americans will accept a draft-
so just HOW do they plan to sustain a military presence in
the ME for another five years, much less ten?
BHN

[Disturbed]

3. The American people will not rebel against the Empire.

This piece nails it. Dems will talk about draw down of the US Occupation but will continue to fund this Fiasco in a timely manner. After all this blood & money there is no way that any US Govt. will let go of the black gold.

[BeHereNow]

4. I'm not so sure about that- when Americans start losing their "stuff," they will

not go so easily into that dark night.
Americans are not a happy lot these days-
food prices, gas prices, repossessed cars and houses.
They are starting to connect the dots between the
empire and their declining lifestyles.
Americans will condone a great deal, but
not the loss of their comforts...
Sad, but true.
I think this is where the empire has miscalculated
the people in this country.
People are getting PISSED off.
Finally.
BHN

[starroute]

9. I saw an interesting bumper sticker today

It had a US flag and said, "These colors don't run ... the world."

And this was in Bethlehem, PA, not exactly a hotbed of radical thought.

Americans may disagree about terrorism and what would make for real national security. But I think if you asked them, "Do you want the United States to become a global empire," most would say Hell no.

There's a lot of room there to work with.

[Peace Patriot]

7. That depends. At the same time the oil war profiteers passed the Iraq War Resolution,

they passed something else--under the radar: The so-called "Help America Vote Act" --to fast-track electronic voting machines all over the country, run on 'TRADE SECRET,'PROPRIETARY programming code, owned and controlled by RIGHTWING BUSHITE CORPORATIONS. The IWR guaranteed unjust war. HAVA provided the means to shove it down the throats of the American people. Closely related bills, October 2002.

56% of the American people opposed this war in Feb. '03, just before the invasion. That stat got drowned out in the tidal wave of war propaganda. A significant MAJORITY opposed the war! 56% would be a landslide in a presidential election (and believe me, it was). But while most Americans remained ignorant of this MAJORITY opposition to the war, the political establishment was well aware of it, and they also knew that it would grow, as it now has, to an overwhelming 70%. It was to defeat this peace-minded, justice-minded American majority that "trade secret" vote counting with no audit/recount controls was devised, and rushed all over the country before 2004.

"Trade secret" vote counting accomplished its purpose in 2004, and again in 2006. They reversed a Kerry win in 2004. All evidence points overwhelmingly to that reversal. And a Kerry win would have put someone in the White House beholden to anti-Bush and anti-Iraq War voters. It might still have been a struggle, but the anti-war momentum would have been great. In 2006, in an atmosphere of STAGGERING numbers against the war (70%!) these election theft machines produced a Congress that did just the OPPOSITE of the will of the people. They ESCALATED the war! Amazing! The '06 election theft involved promoting "Blue Dog" 'Democrats' (who want to cut everything in the budget EXCEPT war spending), with lots of money, and Diebolding them into the 'Democratic' candidacy and into office. Thus, when many Americans were angrily pushing the button for whoever had a "D" by their name, in the hope of change, they were actually voting for a Bushite in disguise. Also, as FL-13 showed, they can--and did--just outright steal the election for a Bushite, by 'disappearing' 18,000 votes for Congress in Democratic areas. They have that capability now, and the Democratic Party establishment is DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT. NOTHING!* Because they were in on it from the beginning.

No matter how hard we work on good political campaigns, we CANNOT elect a president or congress that reflects the will of the American people, and that sees to our interests. We may win one election here, or one election there--by concentrating our efforts and outvoting the machines--but for every one we win, Dieobold/ES&S can fiddle the votes of TWO elections somewhere else. "D" or "R," it doesn't matter. They can shape a Congress that will do the war profiteers' bidding.

So, if the American people recognize what the fascists have done to our election system, and act to correct it at the state/local level--where it is still possible--then it's true: they won't stand for more war, for a Draft and all this other fascist horror.

But if we DON'T restore transparent vote counting, then our protests, no matter how big they get, will be ignored. It's a simple matter of POWER. Our only power--and very nearly the definition of our sovereignty, as a people--is VOTING. If the American people want to restore democracy here, they will restore transparent vote counting.

One way to do it is to let these corrupt county election officials keep their crapass, expensive, and extremely insecure and insider riggable voting machines, but force them to: a) provide a ballot for every vote; and b) count all the ballots and post the results in each precinct BEFORE any electronics are used. They can use their machines for data storage and conveyance, but NOT for counting our votes!

We have to find the way around petty local corruption, but that is easier--and closer to hand--than the humongous corruption in Washington DC.

My motto is: Throw Diebold and ES&S election theft machines into 'Boston Harbor' NOW!

But that isn't so easy. I recognize that this may be a long term battle. But it the one battle that we MUST win, or our democracy is over.

And I think we will all be amazed at what the American people can do, as to reforming our government, our political system and our economic system, when their right to vote is restored.

--------

*(In California, we managed to elect a reforming Secretary of State, Debra Bowen--one of the miracles of the 2006 elections. She is kicking ass and taking names, as they say. The movement for transparent vote counting HAS BEGUN. New York--one of the holdouts on e-voting--is still holding out. There are battles going on all over, to restore vote counting that everyone can and understand. We need to support these local/state movements, and spread them everywhere. This requirement of democracy--transparent vote counting--is such a no-brainer that it can easily snowball as a movement. A Zogby poll showed 92% (!) of Americans wanting it. It may not take that long.)

[kenny blankenship]

5. This should be pinned to the top of the Greatest page

[ThoughtCriminal]

6. Why is it when they dig themselves into a hole...

They insist on calling it a "Tunnel"?

[seemslikeadream]

8. "Creative destruction" was the phrase used by the very serious Michael Leeden

[arewenotdemo]

11. There's a neck that absolutely BEGS to be hanged.

And that's a great AFP article in the OP.

[scarletwoman]

10. k & r -- I posted the same article, but I hadn't seen that you'd already done so. Thanks! (nt)

[scarletwoman]

12. One small step to bring this post back to visibility...