So, this is what I'm thinking…

Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.
– Sun Tzu

The US has abandoned its hunt for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, ending its search for the arms stockpiles that were the key justification for the US-led coalition’s invasion of the country in 2002.

Having read a few historical space exploration books, you have to wonder what it would be like now if the Germans had won World War 2. Once Hitler had won the war (I assume by means of atomic and rocket technology) he may have let Von Braun and co off the leash to explore the universe. The first moon landing, possibly in the late 50s or early 60s may have looked something like this.

This is the face of evil. Her parents may think she’s just a nice country girl. Other defenders say she is good hearted, and publicity surrounding the photos of her are unfairly portraying her. These photos involve her holding an Iraqi prisoner on a dog’s leash at Abu Ghraib prison, posing in front of hooded prisoners, and having sex with numerous partners. I’m not sure the publicity is really needed; the photos have done a good job of portraying her.

Many sources, included her friends, parents and government and military personel are quoted as saying these pictures aren’t that bad, people are over reacting, what’s the bid deal?

Americans wonder why people hate them so much. These images, and others of prisoners being tortured, degraded, mutilated and humiliated can’t really be defended.

Other abuses are listed in the Taguba Report.

So, I’ve been reading this book called Why Do People Hate America?. I think every American should read it, if nothing more than to find more out more about themselves. Here are some of the more obvious reasons:

• The US has been financing domestic growth through the savings of the rest of the world.
• The US denies democratic control over their own economic destinies to over two thirds of the world’s population. Most of the world has no say in the IMF and little power in the WTO.
• The US interprets “trade liberalisation” to mean one-way, open access for American multinationals and businesses.
• The US systematically undermines the efforts of the least developed countries to combat poverty and feed their population by the use of massive tarriffs.
• The US has consistently worked to bring down commodity prices in the developing world.
• The US imposes unilateral coercive economic measure, otherwise known as sanctions, with regularity. In 1998 they had sanctions against 52% of the world’s population.

All this is just commonly known US foreign policy. I’m not going to go into their movies, music, and other cultural idiocy.

So, US forces captured Saddam Hussein. What are they going to do with him now? What are they going to charge him with? Will he even be charged by Americans, or will it be the puppet government they put in place in Iraq?

So, it’s the second anniversary since the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington. A lot has happened in two years. The US, with the support of a few other countries, has invaded two other countries; hightened states of security have existed almost everywhere in the western world; Bush and his cronies have talked about the War on Terrorism. And yet Osama Bin Laden remains alive and well; Saddam Hussain remain at large; Jemmah Islamiah continues to grow in numbers on our doorstep, and killed a few hundred tourists in Bali; more US troops have died in Iraq since the end of the war than during the war as the citizens resist the invasion.

Haven’t heard much from the IRA though…

The War on Terrorism is a war against ghosts. There is no enemy but that which is created by the west, like 1984’s Goldstien. Bush’s motto may well be “WAR IS PEACE, FREEDOM IS SLAVERY, and, IGNORANCE IS STRENGTH.”

So, we’ve all heard about Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf, Iraqi Minister of Information (currently on administrative leave). Check out www.welovetheiraqiinformationminister.com which is a collection of all his memorable quotes given to journalists during the last few weeks.

• “There are no American infidels in Baghdad. Never!”
• “My feelings – as usual – we will slaughter them all”
• “Our initial assessment is that they will all die”

So, the coalition forces have almost secured Baghdad. This is about three weeks after the start of hostilities. Actually, the hostilities started in 1991 during the first Gulf War. No truce was ever called, so technically this is the same war. Three weeks to amass a large army, and almost completely invade a country with less than 120 casualties is very impressive.

Still no sign of Atomic, Bio or Chemical weapons, which was the justification for invasion in the first place. I wonder what the upshot of all this is going to be? Is North Korea next? They have openly admited, even proudly decreed that they are developing or have developed nuclear weapons, and their missle tests clearly show that they have the means to deliver them to South Korea, Japan, China, and Eastern Russia.

So, I think I’ve heard enough about September 11. Sure, it was tragic and about 3000 people died, and those who planned the events of September 11 2001 should be brought to justice. But to put 4 planes, a few buildings and 3000 dead in perspective, between 24000 and 40000 people die in the world every day from hunger or hunger related disease, all of which is preventable.

I am also against the United States decision to go to war with Iraq. President Bush is concerned that Iraq has atomic, biologic or chemical weapons. But President Bush presides over the worlds largest collection of atomic, biological and chemical weapons. Where does he get off telling another sovereign country that they cannot have what he has, and that he will invade that country if they do not give them up?

I believe that US imperialist foreign policy has over the years contributed more to regional and world instability than any other factor. If I was a real conpiracist, I would suggest that the the events of September 11 were orchestrated by the US government (or those in control of the government) as an excuse to invade the Middle East and redivide its resources. Bush is continuing his fathers vision of a New World Order, a global socialist police state where an elite few enslave the rest of the world.

Which brings me to some recommended reading: None Dare Call it Conspiracy, by Gary Allen and The Unseen Hand by Ralph Epperson.