IRAQ 6-29-2003

29, June 2003                                     IRAQ

It is very perplexing to understand that there are still some Indo-Americans convinced that the US is still in the business of democratizing countries like Iraq. The ''shock and awe' propaganda of the Bush Administration, parroted by much of the media, has persuaded some of our compatriots to wave the American flag and support our ''popular president'. Many of the local Indian press, carried a story of marine corporal, Gaurav Taneja, - ''the proud Marine, back from Iraq.

It is a pity that so few ''in-bed' reporters did not venture from their protective shields and turn their cameras to captures the horror and devastation inflicted by the American/Anglo coalition forces.

Iraqgate will no doubt be regarded by an increasing number of Americans, after they awaken from their long reverie, as the biggest blunder in American foreign policy - a preemptive attack on a sovereign nation based on an avalanche of manufactured false propaganda.

Christian Westermann, a top State Department expert on chemical and biological weapons told congressional closed-door hearings that the Bush Administration, had exerted intense pressure to tailor the evidence gathering material to conform to the Administration's colonial policies.

Never has Congress ben so easily manipulated by the executive branch - a sad indictment of our timid lawmakers. After their abysmal failure to challenge the president on his war-mongering crusade, the Democrats dropped their opposition to closed hearings on Iraqgate., Congressional power has eroded and the ''monarchy', rejected more than 200 years, has been reestablished by the right wing ideologues in the White House.

Over 200 Americans "peace keeping' forces, and many British soldiers, have already perished. It is likely the casualties will increase significantly as more Iraqis vent their anger against the occupation forces. Thus far, the Americans have displayed a disturbing pattern of cultural and religious insensitivity and occasional mindless brutality which will no doubt intensify the anger.

No, Mr. Taneja, this is not a time for celebration, but one of sadness and shame that our democracy has been hijacked. Our lawmakers, the servants of the people, supposed to reflect the will of the people. The will of the people has been coopted by the White House aided and abetted by our lawmakers who have chosen to abandon their constituencies in favor of their political careers. I hope India, who has been approached to send peacekeeping forces, stiffen their resistence and chooses not to participate in this charade.

IRAQ 6-13-2003

13, June 2003                                    IRAQ

It is disturbing that a significant number of Indo-Americans have succumbed to the barrage of false propaganda emanating from the White House, aided and abetted by a silent Congress and a compliant press. If there still remains a small vestige of support, convinced that our Administration had altruistic reasons for its invasion of Iraq, I am sure the same people can be persuaded to believe that consuming large amounts ''gulab jaman' lowers cholesterol!

The mendacity of the Bush Administration knows no bounds. The claim that Iraq imposed an immediate threat to the US with its large stockpile of WMD turns out, not surprisingly, to be pure fiction. The attempt to establish a connection to al Qaeda also proved to be false - a crude attempt to exploit the raw emotions of 9/11.

Thousands of Iraqi civilians and many of our brave soldiers have died. Much of the Iraqi infrastructure has been destroyed. An increasing number of Iraqis are venting their anger at our troops whose lives are in jeopardy. The Bush Administration dismisses these increasingly violent incidents as 'pockets' of suspected al Qaeda terrorists. 75 billion of taxpayers money has been squandered. Iraqgate has turned out to be far more serious than all preceeding ''gates'. Bush and his junior partner, Tony Blair, are guilty of the most horrific war crimes. Congress must conduct a vigorous investigation and initiate impeachment proceedings if it can be proved that Bush deliberately misled the American people.

A recent PTI release reported that the Pentagon, the merchants of death, is now anxious to sell large quantities of military hardware to India and thus persuade it to become a strategic partner with the US. India should resist such pressures. At a time when many countries are increasingly dismayed at the unilateral actions of the US in unleashing its firepower and economic might to impose its will whosesoever it chooses, India must remain independent. Even more disturbing is the willingness of India to purchase Israel's Phalcon Airborne Warning Control Systems aircraft. India must resist conducting any trade with Israel, a country, which has occupied huge swaths of Palestinian land, built large numbers of illegal settlements (in violation of UN sanctions) and committed unspeakable atrocities against the Palestinian people.