The following is an archived copy of a message sent to a Discussion List run by the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq.
Views expressed in this archived message are those of the author, not of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq.
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Dear List, It is one thing to be simple, and another thing to think that everyone else is also simple. And when one takes a stand and argues history, one should KNOW that history. That, unfortunately, is not what Muhamad Ali's post reveals.. <The American/ Allied troops committed the "Turkey shoot" mass burying of Iraqi soldiers in 1991 on the road from Liberated Kuwait towards Basrah.> The "Turkey shoot" was NOT the mass burial of Iraqi soldiers, but a shooting attack by US and British planes on columns of withdrawing cars, buses and trucks, containing soldiers and civilians from many nationalities, including Kuwaitis who were escaping the US approach.. The burial of Iraqis happened at the Kuwaiti border, when huge earthmovers were used to bury Iraqis inside their trenches, because the US army didn't want to face them. There was no shooting in the burial.. <All other sites, further north, are where Saddam's military/security forces massacred Iraqi civilians, men, women and children, following the uprising of 1991, bfore and since then.> No one denies that Saddam's security apparatus executed and massacred Iraqis, of all sects, ages and political affiliations. But we tend to forget that the uprising of 1991 did itself get involved in similar crimes against members of the Ba'ath regime and their families, against supporters of Saddam, and against his officers and officials. During that chaotic time, people settled personal accounts and tribal feuds too. Like what is happening now: kill an enemy and accuse him of being a Saddam's man.. Easy!! But one question forces itself on us: if all those were executed by Saddam, why would part of them be buried in plastic bags with their identity cards with them?? Whoever buried those victims, wanted them to be identified later, and that is NOT how cold blooded murderers work... Something to ponder.. <As Iraqis, we hold Saddam's regime, public enemy number 1, as directly or indirectly responsible for all that has befallen the Iraqi people ever since his first assassination attempt on the IRAQI REPUBLIC on 8th February 1963.> First, Muhamad Ali can talk in his name and not in the name of Iraqis. I haven't authorized him to talk in my name nor as far as I can see have the other 26 million Iraqis.. We also have to stop, and explain to Muhamad that Saddam Hussein was NOT involved in the coup/revolution of February 1963. Saddam was then a political refugee in Egypt, and he was a junior member in the Ba'ath party. It is a bit dishonest to blame him of things that happened when he was outside Iraq; just like blaming Clinton for the invasion of Panama! <Also as Liberated Iraqis> I find that statement laughable and pitiful. I can not understand how a person can try to fool himself in such a transparent way! The Americans and British have officially admitted that they are OCCUPATION forces in Iraq. Yet, some "Iraqis" insist on calling the occupation a "liberation". I understand the need to convince oneself that one was right, but that doesn't change the fact that Iraq is occupied, and the UN Security Council has recognized that fact... <we are dismayed by detractors and apologists of Saddam> It remains Muhamad's and his friends' prerogative to be dismayed by any opinion. The democracy he and others have been preaching us and which they claim they want for Iraq means tolerating other opinions. On a list whose main objective is to campaign against Sanctions, we tolerated Muhamad's and others' attacks and insults and sanctions-supporting, war-inciting posts, because we believe in the right of people to express their opinions. Perhaps Muhamad has come to the wrong group, because this group is not intended to support CIA backed propaganda or sanctions, nor advocate attacking Iraq and the death of thousands of Iraqis to satisfy someone's agenda which has only one item in it: the overthrow of Saddam at any price.. This list has worked selflessly for years against sanctions and against the injustice that has been imposed on Iraqis; it has never supported Saddam's regime, but not the sanctions or the attacks either. No one has any agenda except the alleviation of the suffering of the Iraqis. If Muhamad thinks that not supporting his agenda is "manipulation", then he has a lot to learn about words and about actions too.. Muhamad does not have a monopoly on suffering; all Iraqis have suffered, but unlike him, most opposed sanctions and war. What is Muhamad's cause which he claims others have highjacked: the overthrow of Saddam at any price?? That is considered "just", regardless of how many Iraqis die in the process?? "Occupied" Iraqis do not accept the concept of the ends justifying the means, because that is an immoral concept. That is exactly how Saddam based his regime: his ends were the absolute control of Iraq, because like every politician he believed he was right... And so to achieve his goal, he didn't mind using any means. Is that Muhamad's idea of just and right?? Iraqis indeed expect and deserve all the help they can get from others, but it is too naïve to think that Iraqis will be fooled into believing that those who have kept them under complete blockade for 13 years are suddenly the ones who care for them.. The ones responsible for their suffering and the death of their beloved ones through sanctions and bombs can not bring them anything good...I have followed Iraqis through several satellite channels' programs, reports and discussions, and I can tell you that the absolute majority of Iraqis know that the US is only interested in its interests, not in Iraqis or in their "liberation". The way the US has backed up from all its previous commitments and promises only strengthens those views, and they all know the US wants their oil, and they can then go to hell; all of them, including those who came on the backs of US tanks and in their military planes... The same words can be said to Muhamad: refrain from speaking in the name of the Iraqis. Otherwise, the Iraqis message is: NOT IN OUR NAME. Certainly, not in mine... Regards, Hassan He who knows not and knows not he knows not, He is a fool- Shun him. He who knows not and knows he knows not, He is simple- Teach him. He who knows and knows not he knows, He is asleep-Awaken him. He who knows and knows that he knows, He is wise- follow him. __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Calendar - Free online calendar with sync to Outlook(TM). http://calendar.yahoo.com _______________________________________________ Sent via the discussion list of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq. To unsubscribe, visit http://lists.casi.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/casi-discuss To contact the list manager, email casi-discuss-admin@lists.casi.org.uk All postings are archived on CASI's website: http://www.casi.org.uk