Category: Americas, World Affairs Topics: Conflicts And War, Iraq, Saddam Hussein, Terrorism, Weapon Of Mass Destruction Views: 3895
3895
Was It A Good War?
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The war that we saw on TV during the past month was a "good war." No wonder that a majority of us feel the war would be justified even if no weapons of mass destruction were to be found in Iraq. A future terrorist attack on the US has been prevented, with minimum loss of life.
Our bravest sons and daughters in uniform put their lives at risk to liberate the 24 million people of Iraq from the stranglehold of an evil regime. They used high-tech weapons to kill the bad guys professionally and cleanly. Iraqis cheered, as a US tank recovery vehicle pulled down an oversized bronze statute of Saddam Hussein in central Baghdad.
The war resembled a made-for-TV movie with a PG-13 rating. There were battle scenes, but no blood or gore. Buildings were demolished with precision bombs, and there were no human remains. This "beautiful" war was very different from the ugly war that the rest of the world saw.
More than 10,000 Iraqi soldiers were killed in less than a month. This compares with 26,000 Soviets killed in Afghanistan in ten years or 58,000 Americans killed in Vietnam over 14 years. At least thirty thousand Iraqi soldiers were injured. Each of these human beings was someone's son or brother or husband, and was fighting to defend his country. The number of Iraqis with war casualties in their families or friends must number close to a million. Their grief will linger on long after the Marines have come home. At least two thousand Iraqi civilians were killed and countless more injured. Some of the survivors lost arms or legs or both. Others had burns over their entire body. Some will never see again while others will never hear again. Many will die in the months to come.
American viewers were spared the carnage of war. On April 8, a single hospital in Baghdad treated at least 200 civilians and a surgeon performed 12 operations in the afternoon, including two amputations. Hospitals struggled with shortages of equipment and performing operations without anesthesia. The caretakers ran out off coffins and had to reuse them for multiple victims.
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More than a dozen civilians in the residential district of Mansur were killed as a B-1B bomber dropped four JDAM bombs from 30,000 feet above a cloudy sky. The Saa Restaurant, which Saddam Hussein had visited a day earlier, was gutted. The blast shattered windows of virtually every store lining the nearby boulevard. As recovery efforts got underway, a man found the mauled torso of a twenty-year-old woman in the rubble. Moments later, he found what was left of her head, her brown hair matted with blood. Sitting in a chair down the road, her mother cried uncontrollably into her hands, and then vomited.
Another man found his six-year old nephew buried in the rubble. Wrapping the body in a blanket, he wailed, "Is he a military leader?" His eyes red, he went back to work. Six other nieces and nephews were still under the rubble.
In the Arab world, these images were broadcast live. Week after week, Arabs saw scores of badly wounded and mutilated Iraqi civilians being rushed to ill-equipped and already-crammed hospitals. While American viewers were shown beautiful images of fighter aircraft taking off from aircraft carriers, Arab viewers were shown the ugliness of death caused by the bombs dropped from these fighters.
A journalist in Lebanon said U.S. forces had conducted a TV war to impose their military supremacy. Another said, "With the push of a bottom the Americans sent a cruise missile into a residential area killing one hundred people. Is this civilized? How can someone have a clear conscience about that?"
This war was hardly a good war. It has alienated us from much of Europe and global public opinion. It may have caused irreparable harm to the image of the US in the Arab and Muslim world, which feels humiliated and oppressed by our arrogance. As the war began, Egyptian President Mubarak feared that it would create a hundred bin Ladens.
It is a tragedy that the American people were never shown the real pictures of this war. Given their sense of justice and fair play, they would have stopped supporting it. Buoyed by their success, the neo-conservatives in the Bush administration have now placed Syria in their cross hairs. If they get to have their way, the Middle East would soon be converted into a Jurassic Park.
Category: Americas, World Affairs
Topics: Conflicts And War, Iraq, Saddam Hussein, Terrorism, Weapon Of Mass Destruction
Views: 3895
Topics: Conflicts And War, Iraq, Saddam Hussein, Terrorism, Weapon Of Mass Destruction
Views: 3895
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Older Comments:
HALA FROM KUWAIT said:
We have not one to blame but ourselves. We brought all this upon us. By sitting around doing nothing. We shall see more like the war on Iraq in the coming years to come. Then when it affects us directly or personally then we will decide to do something about it.
2003-05-21
ALI FROM CANADA said:
I think that the American really think what they did was to really help the Iraqi, and we all know that not all true. Just too bad for the American because they just made at lease a 1 million or more poeple that will hate them even more because they lost almost all there family.
2003-04-30
RASHID AHMAD FROM USA said:
That the US media did not play its traditional role of a fearless reporter of the truth is now beyond any doubt. The author of this article is simply pointing to this fact in a much polite way than others. For example see:
"Compared with the BBC's studied neutrality, Fox (broadcasting globally its original stateside programming, complete with Brit Hume, Mort Kondracke et al.) comes across as a kind of Gong Show of propaganda. The result is a myopic vision of war that proves alternatively nerve-racking, boring or uplifting, but in the aggregate effectively sanitizes events and numbs the audience. Watching Fox, Serbs see a striking similarity to something in their own recent past: "Why, it's just like TV here under Milosevic!" The Nation 4/11/2003, The US vs. the UK, by Russ Baker.
"American journalists are acting no differently from journalists in repressive societies when they cower before the vehement beliefs of the ruling elite. Fear of being labeled unpatriotic forces US reporters to toe the line, the same way it happens in, say, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Kenya, Thailand...or Iraq. " The Nation, 4/11/2003The Hour of Media Shame by Kanak Mani Dixit.
The role of WMD for Iraq war was same as the Gulf of Tonkin resolution for Vietnam War-to dupe the American public. The war of liberation of Iraq would not have been waged, if Iraq were world's second largest producer of, oh say corn, instead of oil, and the neocons had not shrewdly used the revolving door between Bush and Ariel Sharon governments. Yes, this war liberated hundreds of oil wells, secured the oil ministry, but allowed the looting of world's best museum. And what about those dreaded, hidden WMDs that Hans Blix's inept inspectors could not find? Well, may be Saddam's dog ate them. And the "embedded media" happily beats the war drums on behalf of its bedfellow.
"Compared with the BBC's studied neutrality, Fox (broadcasting globally its original stateside programming, complete with Brit Hume, Mort Kondracke et al.) comes across as a kind of Gong Show of propaganda. The result is a myopic vision of war that proves alternatively nerve-racking, boring or uplifting, but in the aggregate effectively sanitizes events and numbs the audience. Watching Fox, Serbs see a striking similarity to something in their own recent past: "Why, it's just like TV here under Milosevic!" The Nation 4/11/2003, The US vs. the UK, by Russ Baker.
"American journalists are acting no differently from journalists in repressive societies when they cower before the vehement beliefs of the ruling elite. Fear of being labeled unpatriotic forces US reporters to toe the line, the same way it happens in, say, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Kenya, Thailand...or Iraq. " The Nation, 4/11/2003The Hour of Media Shame by Kanak Mani Dixit.
The role of WMD for Iraq war was same as the Gulf of Tonkin resolution for Vietnam War-to dupe the American public. The war of liberation of Iraq would not have been waged, if Iraq were world's second largest producer of, oh say corn, instead of oil, and the neocons had not shrewdly used the revolving door between Bush and Ariel Sharon governments. Yes, this war liberated hundreds of oil wells, secured the oil ministry, but allowed the looting of world's best museum. And what about those dreaded, hidden WMDs that Hans Blix's inept inspectors could not find? Well, may be Saddam's dog ate them. And the "embedded media" happily beats the war drums on behalf of its bedfellow.
2003-04-25
FROM USA said:
Michael Hollifield:
I never said that Middle Eastern countries have no problems. They do have problems however they are certainly not created by Islam rather by the inabilities of some people including some rulers.
And believe me, even though it is not unlimited there is much more tolerance of minorities in most of the ME than you think,it is just that you have been blinded by your media. And you talk about free speech, I know of cases in which Muslim leaders have been arrested just because they were preaching about certain aspects of Islam. And do not even talk about women, the west have made an average woman no more than a sexual object who are used to please men. The worth of an average woman in west is determined exclusively by the way they look and not by their character.
What i am trying to say is that you and the west should mind its own problems. And waht??? Are you trying to deny the discrimination against Asians in WWII or the brutal discrimination against blacks carried out until the late 90s.
Do you deny the Holocaust and the discrimination of Jews by the rest of the West, which by the way they are trying to make up for by supporting Israel. And now it is obvious that the West is discriminaitng against the Muslims.
And once again understand Islam first.no one or nothing can defend itself without speaking for itself. And THE QURAN IS ISLAM. And the powerful expression that the Quarn has is only due to its authenticity. No lie can have such a powerful impression. And all open minded people understand this reality.
And believe me most narrow minded westerners i talk to run away when they realise that i am exposing their truth, just like you intend to not respond anymore.
I never said that Middle Eastern countries have no problems. They do have problems however they are certainly not created by Islam rather by the inabilities of some people including some rulers.
And believe me, even though it is not unlimited there is much more tolerance of minorities in most of the ME than you think,it is just that you have been blinded by your media. And you talk about free speech, I know of cases in which Muslim leaders have been arrested just because they were preaching about certain aspects of Islam. And do not even talk about women, the west have made an average woman no more than a sexual object who are used to please men. The worth of an average woman in west is determined exclusively by the way they look and not by their character.
What i am trying to say is that you and the west should mind its own problems. And waht??? Are you trying to deny the discrimination against Asians in WWII or the brutal discrimination against blacks carried out until the late 90s.
Do you deny the Holocaust and the discrimination of Jews by the rest of the West, which by the way they are trying to make up for by supporting Israel. And now it is obvious that the West is discriminaitng against the Muslims.
And once again understand Islam first.no one or nothing can defend itself without speaking for itself. And THE QURAN IS ISLAM. And the powerful expression that the Quarn has is only due to its authenticity. No lie can have such a powerful impression. And all open minded people understand this reality.
And believe me most narrow minded westerners i talk to run away when they realise that i am exposing their truth, just like you intend to not respond anymore.
2003-04-23
ABDUR RAZZAQ FROM USA said:
Michael Hollifield: I have witnessed your rebuttals to my Muslim colleagues so now I throw my hat in the ring. True, all religion is based upon faith, but much of science is as well. I am in the process of acquiring my Ph.D. in Organic chemistry, In sha Allah, and I must say that much of science is theory - much of which cannot be proven. While the theory of evolution seems to make good sense, through adaptation and survival instincts, homo sapiens should not be the end of evolution, as we have many limitations which should be changed to fit environmental needs. The big bang theory seems very irrational and even still, the environmental conditions ASSUMED to be present at the time cannot be accurately, 100% recaptured in an experimental setting. The existence of dinosaurs is proven only by the elucidation of archaeologists assembling bones into structures. Is this overwhelming proof? More overwhelming than an unexplicably divine compilation of poetic ayaat, which were way ahead is its time? Human arrogance is such that we are lead to believe that our level of intelligence, as compared to the rest of earth's species, gives us God like abilities. We have to rationalize, explain, and understand every phenomenom because of our superiority. While the pursuit of this knowledge is commendable we must realize that several of life's phenomena will probably never be understood by humans. Our inability to "see" God, or have "tangible" evidence of a higher power, increases some people in their disbelief. However, there is 1 day we all must pass through - the day we die. Atheist are gambling with a 50% chance that there is something or someone waiting for us on the other side. If there is nothing, then the Muslim has hopefully lived a good life and served others, but if Allah is waiting, then we arrive in the best condition to meet him. I appreciate your insight and point of view. I have been there and done that. But remember the miracle of LIFE AND DEATH. May Allah guide us all
2003-04-23
RASHID GHAZNAVI FROM PAKISTAN said:
This was an unjust war, there was no need to kill civians. There are [and were] easier ways to get Saddam. [He needed to be destroyed yes]but not the innocent civiians.
2003-04-23
YAHYA BERGUM FROM USA said:
Shiite pilgrims converge on Karbala. At least 1 million gather as Iraqis flex new strength.
"We were prohibited from visiting these shrines for a long time by the Baath Party and their agents," Abed Ali Ghilani told Associated Press Television News in Karbala. "This year, we thank God for ridding us of the dictator Saddam Hussein and for letting us visit these shrines."
[Masha-Allah!!]
[Alhamdulillah!]
[As Salaamu Alaikum.]
"We were prohibited from visiting these shrines for a long time by the Baath Party and their agents," Abed Ali Ghilani told Associated Press Television News in Karbala. "This year, we thank God for ridding us of the dictator Saddam Hussein and for letting us visit these shrines."
[Masha-Allah!!]
[Alhamdulillah!]
[As Salaamu Alaikum.]
2003-04-23
MICHAEL HOLLIFIELD FROM US said:
I did not claim that you praised Saddam Hussein that was a reference to the original
article. My point was that Muslims are unwilling to condemn even the most heinous of
their leaders. I hardly call "not doing good" an accurate description of the ruthless
repression that he imposed upon his people, nor much of a criticism. Did you read or
understand anything I said? I criticized the US government and Israel and spoke of
collective responsibility for the failures in the Middle East.
Your remark about Ritter is nonsense. He was given plenty of opportunities to express his
ill informed views. I heard him myself in person and many others on all sides as well. And
that is free speech, something that is virtually nonexistent in Muslim countries.
The West is far more tolerant than the Middle East of other people. I live among blacks and with
an Asian woman and I can assure you she doesn't agree with your assessment of the condition of
Asians who are flourishing here. Most of the countries in Middle East have no serious or
substantive democratic institutions, little or no free speech, discriminate against their religious
minorities to the point of not allowing them to build churches, and oppress women with practices
of polygamy, occupational discrimination, and civil law which does grant them equality. Your
ignorance of the United States and the West seemingly knows no depths and is only matched by your inability to acknowledge the problems of Islamic countries.
The quotations I used were quite appropriate for the context and much more useful than quoting
the Koran to defend the Koran. I invoked them for their eloquence and not as appeals to their
authority and any educated person knows the difference. I can assure you that an Oxford prof is much smarter than you. Your dogmatism and ignorance is appalling and I do not intend to waste any more time in responding.
I did not claim that you praised Saddam Hussein that was a reference to the original
article. My point was that Muslims are unwilling to condemn even the most heinous of
their leaders. I hardly call "not doing good" an accurate description of the ruthless
repression that he imposed upon his people, nor much of a criticism. Did you read or
understand anything I said? I criticized the US government and Israel and spoke of
collective responsibility for the failures in the Middle East.
Your remark about Ritter is nonsense. He was given plenty of opportunities to express his
ill informed views. I heard him myself in person and many others on all sides as well. And
that is free speech, something that is virtually nonexistent in Muslim countries.
The West is far more tolerant than the Middle East of other people. I live among blacks and with
an Asian woman and I can assure you she doesn't agree with your assessment of the condition of
Asians who are flourishing here. Most of the countries in Middle East have no serious or
substantive democratic institutions, little or no free speech, discriminate against their religious
minorities to the point of not allowing them to build churches, and oppress women with practices
of polygamy, occupational discrimination, and civil law which does grant them equality. Your
ignorance of the United States and the West seemingly knows no depths and is only matched by your inability to acknowledge the problems of Islamic countries.
The quotations I used were quite appropriate for the context and much more useful than quoting
the Koran to defend the Koran. I invoked them for their eloquence and not as appeals to their
authority and any educated person knows the difference. I can assure you that an Oxford prof is much smarter than you. Your dogmatism and ignorance is appalling and I do not intend to waste any more time in responding.
2003-04-23
ABBY FROM USA said:
to Jason, what world do you live in, I am from the US, and there are many problems here, there are many problems in Germany and Japan, Good can only be good, any bad or negative part make the whole operation bad, and this war was bad for many reasons, come take a look at the cities in the US, many problems, for instance there are health issues like west nile coming again this summer, a report said that the funding for this outbreak was almost to nothing, the health committee could not get 250 thousand to aid in relieve and research for the desease and we can spend up to 100 billion dollars on a war that was not ours to fight, plus as stated, if your going to use the terrorist plight, Sadaam had no connections to terrorist groups, plus according to terrorist groups, Iraq was considered a sell out nation, there are no WMD found yet, until some one places it on that ship recorded four months ago, I bet those newly found WMD make it there in the news brief, a storyboard most have forgot but will be made to remember, another cover-up, brother dont cover up the truth yourself to make something bad into good, good is only good if complete, fresh clean water with a little dirt in it makes it a dirty glass of water, peace
2003-04-22
RICK LEONARD FROM USA said:
I am not so sure that any war could be a good war by the standards you have posed in your article.
Do Arab networks show their Arab audiences the carnage, the horribly mangled bodies of innocent children that die in Israel from Palestinean terrorist attacks? Would the Arab world condemn Palestinean violence if they were shown the horrible ugliness of what a carbomb has done? Did Al Jazeer show Palestineans celebrating in the streets when the World Trade Towers were hit, killing 3000 people (who by the way were also fathers, mothers, breadwinners, etc.)
The answer to your question is that no, this was not a good war. There is no such thing. Was is justified war? Perhaps again there is no such thing.
There is a saying in the United States that the pot shouldn't call the kettle black. I have little faith that the Arab media is any more honest or truthful, or is interested in presenting an unbiased and accurate depiction of war than the western media. And I will venture to say that the U.S. media was far more critical of the US war strategy and conduct than any Arab network would be of an Arab government's conduct of war. And I disagree that the U.S. media spared U.S. audiences of images or discussions of civilian suffering resulting from coalition military activities.
I wonder if Arab media informed of policies of the Iraqi government that deliberately put civilians in harms way, to the horror of their children and families who did not wish to be used as pawns in such a way. There is ample evidence of Arab leaders' disregard for human dignity. Nor am I convinced that Saadam's army would be any more careful to try and avoid civilian casualties. In fact, I believe quite the contrary -- that Sadaam's strategy would be to maximize civilian suffering.
I do not hate Arabs or want war with Islam. I fear that we may be entering a cycle of violence where we simply seek revenge for last week's atrocity.
Do Arab networks show their Arab audiences the carnage, the horribly mangled bodies of innocent children that die in Israel from Palestinean terrorist attacks? Would the Arab world condemn Palestinean violence if they were shown the horrible ugliness of what a carbomb has done? Did Al Jazeer show Palestineans celebrating in the streets when the World Trade Towers were hit, killing 3000 people (who by the way were also fathers, mothers, breadwinners, etc.)
The answer to your question is that no, this was not a good war. There is no such thing. Was is justified war? Perhaps again there is no such thing.
There is a saying in the United States that the pot shouldn't call the kettle black. I have little faith that the Arab media is any more honest or truthful, or is interested in presenting an unbiased and accurate depiction of war than the western media. And I will venture to say that the U.S. media was far more critical of the US war strategy and conduct than any Arab network would be of an Arab government's conduct of war. And I disagree that the U.S. media spared U.S. audiences of images or discussions of civilian suffering resulting from coalition military activities.
I wonder if Arab media informed of policies of the Iraqi government that deliberately put civilians in harms way, to the horror of their children and families who did not wish to be used as pawns in such a way. There is ample evidence of Arab leaders' disregard for human dignity. Nor am I convinced that Saadam's army would be any more careful to try and avoid civilian casualties. In fact, I believe quite the contrary -- that Sadaam's strategy would be to maximize civilian suffering.
I do not hate Arabs or want war with Islam. I fear that we may be entering a cycle of violence where we simply seek revenge for last week's atrocity.
2003-04-22
WASEEM MAHMOOD FROM ENGLAND said:
I think that the war was a discrace. the middle east should tell america to stop, and if all the muslims in the world do come together and help our brothers noone can stop us.
these are signs of The Day Of Judgement
asalamolykum
these are signs of The Day Of Judgement
asalamolykum
2003-04-22
ASAD FROM USA said:
This article is very well written and presents a side of war that the US media has failed to focus on. To begin with I have never understood how the US thinks and rationalizes that it has the power to go and neutralize a country, when majority of nations were against this attack how can our government just go in and start bombing the living day lights out of Baghdad.
Think about the people on the streets of Baghdad, how can they see themselves being liberated when the liberator is throwing bombs on your house and killing your loved one's in the process. Howcome Delta Force special operations are not used to go and just take out Saddam if that's the goal, why does the whole landscaping of Baghdad have to be changed, and countless civilian casualties have to be sustained to achieve the end goal. We saw this happen in Afghanistan and it is happening now in Iraq, the US still don't have there man OBL and they still don't have Saddam. Seems like to the US government there is no cost associated with a non-US human life, it's just a numbers game and that's what scares me.
Think about the people on the streets of Baghdad, how can they see themselves being liberated when the liberator is throwing bombs on your house and killing your loved one's in the process. Howcome Delta Force special operations are not used to go and just take out Saddam if that's the goal, why does the whole landscaping of Baghdad have to be changed, and countless civilian casualties have to be sustained to achieve the end goal. We saw this happen in Afghanistan and it is happening now in Iraq, the US still don't have there man OBL and they still don't have Saddam. Seems like to the US government there is no cost associated with a non-US human life, it's just a numbers game and that's what scares me.
2003-04-22
JASON FROM AMERICA said:
in response to Saquib, prove it was about Oil. We in America still saw the boy, his arms lost in bomb be carried to a hospital that had no posibility of helping him. We saw the crying man who lost his daughter in an attack, who hated america because Saddam had never gone after HIM. We saw the prisons of children to, the rejoicing of the common iraqi, and the protests against america. But if its about oil, theres a hell of a lot of good that came from it. Good is still good, whether its done for the reason of good or not, the fact is what was done is still good. We have access to aljezziera, BBC (its a standard cable channel, u dont even need dish with all its power). But if your own troops wont listen to your channel (BBC was recenlty banned from several British Aircraft Carriers) their may be some bias. Iraqi will be a better place because of Americas reconstruction, and prove otherwise. THe top three world powers are US, Germany, and Japan. Two of those three were rebuilt by America, the other is Anerica. Coincidence? I think not.
PS It isnt a shame that Syria is being pushed arround, American is the largest economic and military power in the world, stand up to it and as Iraqi found their are consqequences. But there is a reason america is on top, it is the longest standing Dempocracy in the world the most diverse group of people who are different in everypossible way. We have Musslims, chinese, europeans and africans. Iraqis in America support the war much more than many US citizens do, does that tell you something. If Iraqi people know America is better than home, which they so desperetly want to they created an entire unit of Iraqi exnationals that they want America to attack their 'leader' that says something about his brand of leadership.
PS It isnt a shame that Syria is being pushed arround, American is the largest economic and military power in the world, stand up to it and as Iraqi found their are consqequences. But there is a reason america is on top, it is the longest standing Dempocracy in the world the most diverse group of people who are different in everypossible way. We have Musslims, chinese, europeans and africans. Iraqis in America support the war much more than many US citizens do, does that tell you something. If Iraqi people know America is better than home, which they so desperetly want to they created an entire unit of Iraqi exnationals that they want America to attack their 'leader' that says something about his brand of leadership.
2003-04-22
JASON FROM AMERICA said:
Civilians died, even Americans, who seem to have little knowledge of what war really is know that. So what if 4000 Iraqi civilians would have died under peacetime Saddam in the same amount of time as we killed 1500, at least it was not America being inhumain. If we alienate ourselves from countries like iraq, and those who sell weapons to them (Russia, France and Germany), we move away from the dictorial mass murder that America so valiently tries to destroy. I feel sorry that the Muslim people can only see what we do, not what their own leaders do. If I am told that only America kills, I will hate America. If the press can reveal my own "ally" kills more, i will hate him more. Maybe it isnt America who created Bin Laden, but the Arabs themselves. I would rather have 22 democracys who dont have to kill their people to get them to believe in the government and have to fight a war with those countries that too let 22 mass murders continue destroying their own soveriegn nations from within. This "peace" is nothing but the absence of war between soveriegn nations, but the truth is their is still organized slaughter, not of fighting men who know they might die but of innocent men and women and children, who are imprisined. If America kill 1,500 iraqi civilians, what about those 400,000 who died in 1991 uprising against Saddam. Did not their own Arab friends deny them. America is not Satan, but the good Samaritan, maybe different, but when others will not lend a hand to their fellow Muslim in need, America will. This war killed a man who idolized those who commit mass murder, and the only mistake America made was waiting the extra twelve years and not hearing their plea for help earlier.
2003-04-22
RAS H. SIDDIQUI FROM USA said:
A well written and informative article.
Let us also hope that far a good PEACE.
Ras
Let us also hope that far a good PEACE.
Ras
2003-04-22
B. PERZANOWSKI FROM USA said:
This is my first visit to this site and I very much intend to revisit. The "Good War" article provides a fair assessment of the differences in perceptions of a viewer of the various media outlets. One can only hope that all viewers will have the open access to the various televised perspectives that the west enjoys. I would really like to have the several Arabic language TV braodcasts offered in English. While I admit to a distrust of any government sponsored news outlet one must take ones news where one finds it.
The cost of war has always been high, the civilians of Iraq have paid dearly. As a USA citizen I believe that cost will be repaid in a free Iraqi population that prospers in their eventual self determination of economy, education, religion and self respect. As many Americans believe, success is borne out of how one makes the best out of what one is faced with that really matters. The Iraqis will take charge of a new reality and build for themselves a homeland that they will be proud of.
I thought this war was a mistake before the bombing began. I thought the Arab world would not tolerate a democratic Iraq. Today I am beginning to think that yes, infact, the Arab world will. That along with patience from the Iraqis will be enough. Once the Arab street sees that the freedom of self governance is good for the Arab in the street the Middle East will once again rise to the position of respect it's history is due.
The cost of war has always been high, the civilians of Iraq have paid dearly. As a USA citizen I believe that cost will be repaid in a free Iraqi population that prospers in their eventual self determination of economy, education, religion and self respect. As many Americans believe, success is borne out of how one makes the best out of what one is faced with that really matters. The Iraqis will take charge of a new reality and build for themselves a homeland that they will be proud of.
I thought this war was a mistake before the bombing began. I thought the Arab world would not tolerate a democratic Iraq. Today I am beginning to think that yes, infact, the Arab world will. That along with patience from the Iraqis will be enough. Once the Arab street sees that the freedom of self governance is good for the Arab in the street the Middle East will once again rise to the position of respect it's history is due.
2003-04-21
ANSAR HAROUN FROM USA said:
This is a great article, because the author stimulates us into thinking. Instead of merely repeating the usual pro-war or anti-war rhetoric, he asks if it was a "good" war, inviting analysis of the nature of "good". It may have been a beautiful war (and it was, from the comfort of my living room), and it may have been a safe war (for the well armed invaders), but decent people have other defintions of goodness. Most religious traditions have criteria for Just War, and most American religious leaders (of most denominations)
agreed that this war failed the test of being a Just War. Even so, was it worthwhile? If great good was accomplished, at minimal cost, one might conclude the greater end was justified by the means. But as the author points out, the cost was NOT minimal. Viewers of American TV may believe that it was minimal, but the rest of the world is better educated, and after seeing world TV, cannot conclude that we are the sweet gentle liberators American TV says we are.
If, after this brutal war, we are even more hated, and if thinking Americans want to know "Why!?", they should read such articles.
agreed that this war failed the test of being a Just War. Even so, was it worthwhile? If great good was accomplished, at minimal cost, one might conclude the greater end was justified by the means. But as the author points out, the cost was NOT minimal. Viewers of American TV may believe that it was minimal, but the rest of the world is better educated, and after seeing world TV, cannot conclude that we are the sweet gentle liberators American TV says we are.
If, after this brutal war, we are even more hated, and if thinking Americans want to know "Why!?", they should read such articles.
2003-04-21
SAQUIB FROM UNITED KINGDOM said:
There is no doubt that the US media has presented a biased, cushioned view of the war to the American public.
Satellite tv means that a viewer in the UK can easily flick between BBC, CNN, SKY, Fox, Abu Dhabi TV, Al Jazeera, ITN, Euronews, CNBC...to name but a few.
Whilst the BBC would challenge assumptions, ask questions from the Iraqi point of view and at least attempt to add some balance, the US networks seem to be extensions of the Bush propoganda machine, toeing the line and asking the 'right' questions.
This war was never about helping those who are unable to help themselves. It was not about weapons of mass destruction. It was not about helping Muslims. It was not about deposing an evil dictator. It was not about democracy and 'freeing the Iraqi people'.
It was about what most wars are fought over - resources and their control.
As late as last year, the West was selling chemical weapons to Syria and Libya..to name but a few countries. The 'chemical weapons of mass destruction' argurment being levelled against Syria is nothing to do with chemical weapons but a leverage to get Syria to surrender any member of the Iraqi regime it may be habouring.
It is a shame that the leadership of these countries is so inept as to allow themselves to be manouvered into political corners by the Western governments and their hypocritical policies.
Satellite tv means that a viewer in the UK can easily flick between BBC, CNN, SKY, Fox, Abu Dhabi TV, Al Jazeera, ITN, Euronews, CNBC...to name but a few.
Whilst the BBC would challenge assumptions, ask questions from the Iraqi point of view and at least attempt to add some balance, the US networks seem to be extensions of the Bush propoganda machine, toeing the line and asking the 'right' questions.
This war was never about helping those who are unable to help themselves. It was not about weapons of mass destruction. It was not about helping Muslims. It was not about deposing an evil dictator. It was not about democracy and 'freeing the Iraqi people'.
It was about what most wars are fought over - resources and their control.
As late as last year, the West was selling chemical weapons to Syria and Libya..to name but a few countries. The 'chemical weapons of mass destruction' argurment being levelled against Syria is nothing to do with chemical weapons but a leverage to get Syria to surrender any member of the Iraqi regime it may be habouring.
It is a shame that the leadership of these countries is so inept as to allow themselves to be manouvered into political corners by the Western governments and their hypocritical policies.
2003-04-21
MIKE HALE FROM USA said:
When speaking of civilian casualities why does everyone fail to mention the casualties that are inflicted on innnocents from suicide bombers.
There really are two sides to a coin and the view on these pages is that America is evil and should be destroyed. Everything America does is evil and all Americans should take a gun to the mouth and blow our heads off.
Well, that's not going to happen. So you cave dwellers and bottom feeders should try and improve your own lot in life and quit blaming the USA for all of your ills.
The governments really should sell JDAMS to the local 7-11's in the Middle East and watch the morons bomb each other off the planet.
There really are two sides to a coin and the view on these pages is that America is evil and should be destroyed. Everything America does is evil and all Americans should take a gun to the mouth and blow our heads off.
Well, that's not going to happen. So you cave dwellers and bottom feeders should try and improve your own lot in life and quit blaming the USA for all of your ills.
The governments really should sell JDAMS to the local 7-11's in the Middle East and watch the morons bomb each other off the planet.
2003-04-21
YAHYA BERGUM FROM USA said:
I respectively suggest that those who have supported war should carefully consider Quran 4:92. It is only my opinion but (following the "cessation of hostilities") it would seem logical to make blood-money payments for those people (of formerly hostile nations) who suffered losses as the result of wars waged by our nation (in the lands of "tribes" with whom our nation is supposedly no longer at war) - in addition to our "freeing slaves" among the disadvantaged people in our own country. If our nation seems reluctant to pay such debts (for example, as America seems reluctant to do for many of those who suffered war losses in Afghanistan) it would seem in our best interest to do so ourselves - to the extent that Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'Ala) enables us to do so. As Salaamu Alaikum.
2003-04-21
MAT FROM MALAYSIA said:
This war is a typical of a predictable school yard bullying.We have a big fat kid beat a small and skinny malnourish kid.
2003-04-21
SARA FROM PAKISTAN said:
I personally think that this is how war is supposed to be with many casualties and uncounted deaths.Why do we expect them to show the real picture?When the whole world thought it was wrong why didn't all muslim countries got together and asked for this war to be stopped. It was illegal in the first place.My understanding is that just because no one had enough guts to take a stand against something so wrong being taken place in the world, no one has the right to complain now.When, in history have the powerful shown any mercy?What are our complains based on???Why do expect them to be good to us when they invaded without any ones permission and didnt stop with all the opposition!!!Do we expect a robber to be nice and mercyful?????or to tell the truth for that matter???Why did we let it happen in the first place????We left the door of our house unlocked!!! We showed enough irresponsiblity!!!
2003-04-21
MMDVC FROM USA said:
American society has more access to information by many means more so than any other country on the face of the earth and Americans are pretty good at shifting out the baloney writers like this try to pass off on the public.
You should be more concerned with what the arab world gets to see and if they get a balanced and factual view of any given issue. This continual cry of unfairness or injustice from the arab world just doesn't get it anymore, because for the first time American's really have had their eyes opened by the likes of the UN, arab countries, and the blatantly bias arab media.
We don't believe you anymore, so you better get off your high horse and join the human race like the rest of us.
You should be more concerned with what the arab world gets to see and if they get a balanced and factual view of any given issue. This continual cry of unfairness or injustice from the arab world just doesn't get it anymore, because for the first time American's really have had their eyes opened by the likes of the UN, arab countries, and the blatantly bias arab media.
We don't believe you anymore, so you better get off your high horse and join the human race like the rest of us.
2003-04-20
BOB FROM USA said:
This article is nothing but propaganda....We in America did see some of the horrible images of the injured during this war........We have the choice to see what we want to see........And we have the choice to voice our opinions as well as form them with all the information that is available..................................
....It is very sad, war is ugly....
Let us put the blame where it should be placed...........Let us be responsible for our own actions......................
...It is sad that those in the Arab World have not seen the atrocities that have occured in Iraq over the last quarter of a century.......It is not hard to believe that most in the Arab World do not believe that they occured..........
.............It is also hard to believe that some do not believe that Hitler committed the crimes that he committed as well..............
....It is very sad, war is ugly....
Let us put the blame where it should be placed...........Let us be responsible for our own actions......................
...It is sad that those in the Arab World have not seen the atrocities that have occured in Iraq over the last quarter of a century.......It is not hard to believe that most in the Arab World do not believe that they occured..........
.............It is also hard to believe that some do not believe that Hitler committed the crimes that he committed as well..............
2003-04-20
PAUL WOLF FROM USA said:
An important idea - this article needs footnotes.
You can't say that 10,000 Iraqi soldiers were killed without giving a reference. It's too important for a casual statment. I am studying this all the time and I didn't know how many Iraqi's were killed. So most people just casually reading the news won't know either. It doesn't matter if it's 10,000 or 9,000, personally, if there is uncertainty I always take the low number. It has the same effect, but when people check to see if you are exaggerating they find you are estimating low - then your credibility increases, the most important thing. Give us some references and republish your article, you will make an important point and journalists all over the world will be able to use it!
I am only criticizing you because you are making an important point that needs to be made, but it needs a reference to have the effect you want.
- Paul
You can't say that 10,000 Iraqi soldiers were killed without giving a reference. It's too important for a casual statment. I am studying this all the time and I didn't know how many Iraqi's were killed. So most people just casually reading the news won't know either. It doesn't matter if it's 10,000 or 9,000, personally, if there is uncertainty I always take the low number. It has the same effect, but when people check to see if you are exaggerating they find you are estimating low - then your credibility increases, the most important thing. Give us some references and republish your article, you will make an important point and journalists all over the world will be able to use it!
I am only criticizing you because you are making an important point that needs to be made, but it needs a reference to have the effect you want.
- Paul
2003-04-20
MICHAEL HOLLIFIELD FROM US said:
To Harold Monkres:
Did you bother to read a newspaper, a journal of opinion, a newsmagazine, listen to National Public Radio, or any television? There was plenty of exposure of the brutality of war in this media for anyone who made the slightest effort to open their eyes.
My local newspaper, the Atlanta Journal Constitution featured the same pictures of Iraqi civilian causalities that appeared elsewhere in the world, on the front page and the inside pages as well. I heard and read countless interviews regarding the horrors of this war, which I also opposed.
Opposing a war doesn't mean that one has to agree with everything others who oppose it write or say. There is a considerable dose of ideological blindness on the left, just as there is on the right. And the blindness is near total among those in the Islamic world, who seem to believe that condemnation of all things Western is required of their religion, with the counterpart obligation to ignore every harm done by anyone in the Middle East.
Did you bother to read a newspaper, a journal of opinion, a newsmagazine, listen to National Public Radio, or any television? There was plenty of exposure of the brutality of war in this media for anyone who made the slightest effort to open their eyes.
My local newspaper, the Atlanta Journal Constitution featured the same pictures of Iraqi civilian causalities that appeared elsewhere in the world, on the front page and the inside pages as well. I heard and read countless interviews regarding the horrors of this war, which I also opposed.
Opposing a war doesn't mean that one has to agree with everything others who oppose it write or say. There is a considerable dose of ideological blindness on the left, just as there is on the right. And the blindness is near total among those in the Islamic world, who seem to believe that condemnation of all things Western is required of their religion, with the counterpart obligation to ignore every harm done by anyone in the Middle East.
2003-04-20
MICHAEL HOLLIFIELD FROM US said:
Let me say at the outset that as an American citizen I vigorously opposed this war by all the means available to an ordinary citizen in a Western democratic country. Nonetheless, I consider myself to be a rational person, who tries to see reality in all its aspects.
The description of the American television media coverage of the war in this article is wholly inaccurate,and typical of the utterly one sided bias that appears in every single article on this website. There is no documentation whatsoever provided for these claims, and let me ask who in the American media or any position of responsibility called this war "beautiful." I read, saw, and heard plenty of accounts of the civilian causalities, including much of what was reported in the Middle East in the American media and with much more concern with accuracy than anything I read here.
As is typical of the Islamic world, you seldom mention the brutality and legacy of Saddam who used violence against his own people as his modus operandi. Torture, including rape, beating, and electrocution were routinely applied to virtually anyone jailed in Iraq. His military aggression cost the lives of at least one million Iraqi and Iranians, thousands of Kurds, and Kuwaitis. But you would rather focus all of your condemnation on the West or the Jews. A double standard? Absolutely.
This website and every article posted here, without exception, constitute nothing more than anti-Western propaganda. Your writers show no regard for evidence, the truth, or the consequences of distorting reality to fit your ideology. The Soviet Union circa 1934 under Stalin expressed as much variety of opinion and concern for the truth as you do. You should be thoroughly ashamed of yourselves for your disservice to the truth and to your readers who you so mislead.
The description of the American television media coverage of the war in this article is wholly inaccurate,and typical of the utterly one sided bias that appears in every single article on this website. There is no documentation whatsoever provided for these claims, and let me ask who in the American media or any position of responsibility called this war "beautiful." I read, saw, and heard plenty of accounts of the civilian causalities, including much of what was reported in the Middle East in the American media and with much more concern with accuracy than anything I read here.
As is typical of the Islamic world, you seldom mention the brutality and legacy of Saddam who used violence against his own people as his modus operandi. Torture, including rape, beating, and electrocution were routinely applied to virtually anyone jailed in Iraq. His military aggression cost the lives of at least one million Iraqi and Iranians, thousands of Kurds, and Kuwaitis. But you would rather focus all of your condemnation on the West or the Jews. A double standard? Absolutely.
This website and every article posted here, without exception, constitute nothing more than anti-Western propaganda. Your writers show no regard for evidence, the truth, or the consequences of distorting reality to fit your ideology. The Soviet Union circa 1934 under Stalin expressed as much variety of opinion and concern for the truth as you do. You should be thoroughly ashamed of yourselves for your disservice to the truth and to your readers who you so mislead.
2003-04-20
MAR FROM ENGLAND said:
i simply disagree with every thing u say!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2003-04-19
HAROLD MONKRES FROM USA said:
I wish more of my fellow countrymen,had seen what the rest of the world had seen.Instead,they were conned into supporting cowardly mass slaughter and mayhem.Many of us,tried to stop our government.God help us!
2003-04-19
AMR SHEHATA FROM UK,LONDON said:
I don't agree with you that the americans would stop supporting this ugly war if they saw what we did see on the TV in our country simply because they have the technology to see it real on other satelite channels and then compare it with their "honest media".
In my opinion they are choosen not to do so simply because the americans love wars as their each and every president of the USA did so for other eco.and political reasons.
For the americans,wars are always a good source of income to their economy,therefore,considerations about other people's sufferings is less important to watch or even take any notice of it on a large scale as we saw in Europe,the Middle East and the rest of the free world.
In my opinion they are choosen not to do so simply because the americans love wars as their each and every president of the USA did so for other eco.and political reasons.
For the americans,wars are always a good source of income to their economy,therefore,considerations about other people's sufferings is less important to watch or even take any notice of it on a large scale as we saw in Europe,the Middle East and the rest of the free world.
2003-04-19
STAN FROM USA said:
This is absolutely an unfair war, fought in favor of a superpower. What can a weak, already weakened country like Iraq, do amid firepower so great and devastating! Iraq may as well have fought with bare hands and knives, because their guns are completely outdated compared to the highly technically evolved weapons of the allied forces. This is the story of David and Goliath in reverse. David is the helpless warrior facing the mighty Goliath, made more menacing by his weapons. But who cares! People just die. It's inevitable. This is war. Collateral damage is just one of its end-product. Never mind if precious lives are lost, be they Arabs or Americans or British. As long as the superpower stands up to its name. There is no greater sin than taking someone's life for no just reason. Killing in self-defense is justifiable. Murder is not, which characterizes this war. This is a sad state of human evolution, when one nation believes it is superior among all others, just because it is endowed with all the bounties of the earth. In the movie Jurassic Park, the dinosaurs were created to be all females so they would not multiply. They were controlled. But, eventually, they did because nature found a way. History will repeat itself. And David will be victorious again.
2003-04-19
ANISAH MUJAHIDA FROM USA said:
This war was an ugly ,blatant attack on Islam and an attempt of the American powers that be to loot the Iraqi oil. Innocent women and children were slaughtered for capitalism and greed. Sadaam is still alive and no weapons of mass destruction have been found. Yet they invaded and conquered , old fashioned colonialism at work! This war was for naught.
2003-04-19
MOHAMMAD ELDEIB FROM USA said:
I have two quotes to share with the readers:
the first from article by:Stephen Gowans, Poets for Peace."When a child screams in Baghdad,
will anybody hear?"
"We" are Winners?
Flipping through TV channels I stumbled across an interview with a man, an American, who had written a defense of US foreign policy. "They say we're stupid, we're short-sighted, we're bumblers," he complained, bitter about the way Washington is regarded outside of America and 10 Downing Street. "Well, if we're so stupid, so short-sighted, so bumbling, why is it that we keep winning?" This summed up the two defining characteristics of American foreign policy. First, the idea that America's relations with other countries is a collective enterprise in which all Americans participate ("we" keep winning) rather than one planned by a tiny minority for the benefit of the same tiny minority. And two, the idea that foreign policy is a game (of conquest and control) whose object is to win.
The second quote is by the Great Muslim Scholar-Ibn Tymeeyyah:
"Civilization is rooted in justice, and the consequences of oppression are devastating. Therefore, it is said that Allah aids the just state even it is non-Muslim, yet withholds His help from the oppressive state even it is Muslim."
the first from article by:Stephen Gowans, Poets for Peace."When a child screams in Baghdad,
will anybody hear?"
"We" are Winners?
Flipping through TV channels I stumbled across an interview with a man, an American, who had written a defense of US foreign policy. "They say we're stupid, we're short-sighted, we're bumblers," he complained, bitter about the way Washington is regarded outside of America and 10 Downing Street. "Well, if we're so stupid, so short-sighted, so bumbling, why is it that we keep winning?" This summed up the two defining characteristics of American foreign policy. First, the idea that America's relations with other countries is a collective enterprise in which all Americans participate ("we" keep winning) rather than one planned by a tiny minority for the benefit of the same tiny minority. And two, the idea that foreign policy is a game (of conquest and control) whose object is to win.
The second quote is by the Great Muslim Scholar-Ibn Tymeeyyah:
"Civilization is rooted in justice, and the consequences of oppression are devastating. Therefore, it is said that Allah aids the just state even it is non-Muslim, yet withholds His help from the oppressive state even it is Muslim."
2003-04-19
FM QURESHI FROM INDIA said:
It was a terrorist attack on Iraqi people more dreadful and painful than on 9/11
2003-04-19
HYAT FROM CANADA said:
Are we going to just sit there and let the truth not be known to the rest of the US people and the world? Please start campaigns of some sort to get people who care about other humans to donate money enough to publicize the horrible tragedy that the American Administration has caused to the Iraqi people. This should be put on National television in the US, Canada and in Europe.
This horrific act should not be kept silent to protect the United States. This war is bad for the entire world, and we are all going to pay the price in one way or another.
This horrific attack of the Americans is so unjustified. Whatever the motive was, the USA should have listened to the UN. But they had to carry out their (US) plan, which was probably in the works for years. They cannot and will not allow a Muslim country advance. So Saddam was a dictator, he imprisoned people--don't tell me that the US doesn't have people in jails that the charges are unjustified. Look whose calling the kettle black as the saying goes. Besides why didn't this kind of thing bother the US when Saddam was their puppet? What bigots and hypocrites they are those good old Yankees.
What hold does the American government have on the world that they can get them to do whatever they want done? Look what happened in Iran, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Iraq and now maybe Syria and many other countries that the US has touched. Who gave them the right to control other lands and peoples and what happens to innocent until proven guilty. All human beings have the right to live life.
This horrific act should not be kept silent to protect the United States. This war is bad for the entire world, and we are all going to pay the price in one way or another.
This horrific attack of the Americans is so unjustified. Whatever the motive was, the USA should have listened to the UN. But they had to carry out their (US) plan, which was probably in the works for years. They cannot and will not allow a Muslim country advance. So Saddam was a dictator, he imprisoned people--don't tell me that the US doesn't have people in jails that the charges are unjustified. Look whose calling the kettle black as the saying goes. Besides why didn't this kind of thing bother the US when Saddam was their puppet? What bigots and hypocrites they are those good old Yankees.
What hold does the American government have on the world that they can get them to do whatever they want done? Look what happened in Iran, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Iraq and now maybe Syria and many other countries that the US has touched. Who gave them the right to control other lands and peoples and what happens to innocent until proven guilty. All human beings have the right to live life.
2003-04-19
SAIMA FROM USA said:
very well written, you have made a very good point that despite the PG-13 media coverage, the war in Iraq was not a good war for Americans. It will not only unleash a hundred bin Ladens it will tarnish the credibility of the worlds biggest democracy.
2003-04-19
CLAUDIA FROM MEXICO said:
I am totally agree, The American Media just show us what they want not the real situation, Bush administration does not care about the suffer of your people (Iraqui and Palestinian and Afganistan people) They just care about power and is more than evident that Bush Administration wants to have the control of all the Arab World, they want to put governments that became friendly and easy to convence to the interest of the American. but is not that also they want to impouse a way of life,a way of thinking and behaive. Each country has their own way of life culture etc. They dont have culture, history. An you people from Arab world are a very interesting people, you have many things to show to the world. They just have hamburgers and pop music, is that all. And you gave to the world so many knowledge is where the civilization start. But the sickness of power or Mr. Bush is making horrible things to people who does not deserve it. If the people who governs their country is not good for you is something that you Arabs has to solve no other people from other countries.
2003-04-19
AMINU MUMIN FROM NIGERIA said:
the is readable and clearly understood.But of one thing i could'nt understand was,the writer was explainig the down fallen of iraqi and kind of sufferness they are at present.point of abiquit re supporting sadam or against him? Thank
2003-04-19
JANET FROM USA said:
In addition to misinformation about the war being clean, I believe that the public support portrayed is also a misperception. I do not know ANYONE who actualy thought that war was a good idea, or that it is anything less that a horrible thing to do. It sickened me when they (we) went after Afganistan, and it only keeps getting worse. I only hope that somthing good comes of the study and searching that this situation has prompted, but in will never be as good as the horror is bad. We are having a study of Islam at my church, and will be collecting relief supplies as a mission project. Maybe this can break down bariers, but we will need forgiveness.
2003-04-19
KOVIT FROM CANADA said:
No war is a Good War, every war will have its consequence. 9/11 was the fruit of the first Gulf War. This War was an unjust war, so soon we'll see the fruit.
2003-04-19
CHOKRI FROM TUNISIA said:
why don't we see such articles published in the Washington post or the New york Times?
Why do we know the truth but only say it to few who probably would already know it?
why don't we make a greater effort on bringing what we know to the American public?
This is a nice truthful daring article but it happens to sound more like a 'monologue' than to a dialogue that could be widely heard..
Why do we know the truth but only say it to few who probably would already know it?
why don't we make a greater effort on bringing what we know to the American public?
This is a nice truthful daring article but it happens to sound more like a 'monologue' than to a dialogue that could be widely heard..
2003-04-19
IFTEKHAR HAI FROM USA said:
This was not a war. It was one side, world super power committing genocide against already impoverished third world nation, Iraq with sanctions from the last ten years and then raining bombs over the crippled country in the name of freedom and liberty. Destroying the infrastructure of Iraq and immediately inflicting suffering on this nation which never initiated the war.
2003-04-19
