12/13 – Bush’s speech yesterday touted the emerging democracy in Iraq amidst revelations of new torture chambers and newspaper articles paid for by the US military.
In recent speeches, Bush has responded to growing opposition among the people and debate in Congress by aggressively asserting that the war on Iraq is for liberation, and that he will not let anyone deter him from “completing the mission”. Yesterday Bush cited the upcoming elections and supposed steps toward democracy as proof that the war and occupation are just.
But looking behind all this, the real nature of this war becomes clear. Last week another Iraqi government detention center was discovered where routine torture takes place, and 13 inmates had to be hospitilized. The Iraqi government had a good teacher in torture, with the Bush regime’s hideous crimes at Abu Graib and other military detention centers. Is this the kind of democracy Bush is so avidly promoting?
Or look at recent revelations that the US military has been paying for supposedly “objective” articles in the Iraqi media, which seek to paint a positive spin on the brutal occupation. Rumsfeld touted the creation of “free media” in Iraq as one of the war’s victories, but clearly this media is subject to the whims and pay offs of the US military.
Furthermore, the will of the Iraqi people is clearly that the US military occupation end immediately, as demonstrated by a recent poll in Iraq which showed that 80% of the people want the US to withdraw immediately. Will this be an option in the voting booths?
Bush cannot be allowed to have the high ground on this. The terms of debate cannot be over how best to “complete the mission” in Iraq. Instead, this war needs to be called out as “murderous and utterly illegitimate”, and powerful opposition needs to be built to the war and to the whole disasterous course the Bush regime is taking.
The World Can’t Wait! Drive Out the Bush Regime!