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[ This message has been sent to you via the CASI-analysis mailing list ] http://paxlynx.blogspot.com/ Friday, July 16, 2004 Regarding the Philippine's Withdrawal From Iraq When people (or nations) go in together on a project, there are expectations. But what will happen when those expectations prove unfounded? When the Philippines agreed to be part of the coalition, did it not expect that what the US said was true? That WMD would be found, that terrorism would be reduced, that the Iraqi people would welcome being "liberated", and that law and justice would be the standard? Did the Philippines expect that massive war profiteering with no-bid contracts would be the norm while the Iraqis would suffer 60% unemployment, or that the US would appoint a puppet government, without elections after more than a year of occupation? Was it expected that the US would allow the rampant looting of national treasures and the destruction of ancient artifacts and books? Was it expected that after all this time raw sewage would still be in streets, medical care, clean water, and electricity would be limited and unreliable, that the costs would not be covered by oil revenues but would instead become a huge drain on the occupiers, and rife with corruption? Did the Philippines expect that cities would be under siege and people would be disappeared in the middle of the night and subjected to physical and sexusl torture, even murder, and indefinite imprisonment without legal counsel or a judicial process or having their locations communicated to their relatives? Did they expect an endless quagmire and being entangled with programs of massive human rights violations, including collective punishments, the continuing bombing and shooting of innocent civilians, and to become the target of an ever-growing resistance and retribution? Do not the Philippines already have more than enough of such difficulties within it's own recent history and geographical vicinity without taking on even more trouble like this? This is not what they bargained for. This not just lending some help to countering terrorism, WMD, and a move to remove a dictator. Suppose that you had agreed to help out a friend in moving, but then found that you were instead involved in a scheme of extortion, burglary, and murder -- and that serious consequences were about to descend on you. Would feel bound to continue with such a project? _______________________________________ Sent via the CASI-analysis mailing list To unsubscribe, visit http://lists.casi.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/casi-analysis All postings are archived on CASI's website at http://www.casi.org.uk