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Alexander Cockburn's India Journal: Travels with Sainath Fakers and fakirs of the Indian neoliberal disaster, from the Indian elites to Bill Gates to Bill Clinton to the New York Times; heroes and villains of the Indian press; 5,000 suicides in Andhra Pradesh and the rise and fall of Chandrababu Naidu, World Bank posterboy; what the British did to India, from Warren Hastings to the Falkland Road; what Indians did to architecture, from the Taj Mahal to the dawn of concrete; making weight in upland Kerala; why America needs south Indian cooking; homage to the great peasant rebellion of 1857; can India recover from "reform"? Get the answers you're looking for in the latest subscriber-only edition of CounterPunch... CounterPunch Online is read by millions of viewers each month! But remember, we are funded solely by the subscribers to the print edition of CounterPunch. Please support this website by buying a subscription to our newsletter, which contains fresh material you won't find anywhere else, or by making a donation for the online edition. Remember contributions are tax-deductible. Click here to make a donation. If you find our site useful please: Subscribe Now! or write CounterPunch, PO BOX 228, Petrolia, CA 95558 |
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Other Lands Have Dreams: From Baghdad to Pekin Prison by KATHY KELLY  Today's Stories June 7, 2005 Greg
Moses / Susan van Haitsma Michael
Neumann
June 6, 2005 Stew
Albert Paul
Craig Roberts Nicole
Colson Ali
Khan Jason
Leopold Charles
Walker Poff Ramzy
Baroud Rep.
John Conyers Evelyn
Pringle Gary
Corseri Website
of the Day
June 4 / 5, 2005 Alexander
Cockburn James
Petras Robert
Fisk Patrick
Cockburn Rev.
William Alberts Saul
Landau Mario
Lamo Jimenez Dave
Lindorff Lance
Selfa Tom
Crumpacker Joshua
Frank Fred
Gardner Michael
Dickinson Roger
Martin Reza
Fiyouzat Ben
Tripp Graeme
Greenback Poets'
Basement
June 3, 2005 Paul
Craig Roberts Joseph
Massad Jeff
Halper Tom
Barry Bruce
K. Gagnon Joshua
Frank Mickey
Z. Gary
Leupp Website
of the Day
June 2, 2005 Paul
Craig Roberts Forrest
Hylton Mike
Whitney Brian
Cloughley Mazin
Qumsiyeh Russell
D. Hoffman Norman
Madarasz Norman
Solomon David
Price Website
of the Day
June 1, 2005 James
Petras Justin
Delacour Edward
Jay Epstein Omar
Barghouti / Lisa Taraki Dave
Lindorff Kevin
Zeese Jason
Leopold William
S. Lind
May 31, 2005 Sen.
Mike Gravel David
Krieger Tad
Daley Joshua
Frank Richard
Gott Norman
Solomon Tom
Segev Walter
Brasch Diana
Johnstone
May 28 / 30, 2005 Alexander
Cockburn Richard
Lichtman Sharon
Smith Paul
Craig Roberts Dave
Lindorff Ramzy
Baroud Brian
Cloughley Fred
Gardner Lee
Sustar Joshua
Frank Justin
E.H. Smith Jackie
Corr Michael
Kimaid Toufic
Haddad Justin
Taylor Amir
Butler Ben
Tripp Poets'
Basement
May 27, 2005 Gary
Leupp Daniel
Estulin Kevin
Zeese Robert
Fisk Dave
Zirin Website
of the Day
May 26, 2005 Yuki
Tanaka Ray
McGovern Arthur
Mitzman Jack
Random Britt
Bailey and Brian Tokar Rebecca
Rush Jorge
Mariscal Paul
Craig Roberts Website
of the Day
May 25, 2005 Camilo
Mejia Dave
Lindorff William
S. Lind Chris
Floyd Brian
Cloughley Lenni
Brenner Sean
Cain Karl
Shepard John
Ross Website
of the Day
Dave
Zirin Michele
Bollinger Winslow
Wheeler Uri
Avnery Michael
Donnelly Joshua
Frank Stephen
Dunifer Paul
Craig Roberts
May 23, 2005 Esther
Sassaman / Thomas Nagy Mike
Whitney Ramzy
Baroud Michael
Dickinson Walter
Brasch Dick
J. Reavis Maria
Tomchick Norman
Solomon Kevin
Zeese Website
of the Day
May 21 / 22, 2005 David
H. Price Gabriel
García Márquez Oren
Ben-Dor Gary
Leupp Laith
al-Saud Elaine
Cassel Greg
Moses Fred
Gardner Dave
Lindorff Alan
Maass William
Blum Tom
Crumpacker Niranjan
Ramakrishnan Doug
Giebel Evelyn
J. Pringle Carolyn
Baker Chris
Floyd Frederick
B. Hudson Ben
Tripp Poets'
Basement
May 20, 2005 Dave
Lindorff Kevin
Zeese Paul
de Rooij Christopher
Brauchli Mark
Engler Joshua
Frank Robert
Jensen Jeffery
R. Webber
May 19, 2005 Bill
Forman Stan
Goff Neve
Gordon Michael
Dickinson Karyn
Strickler Andrew
Freedman Paul
Craig Roberts
May 18, 2005 Jean
Bricmont Laura
Carlsen Mike
Whitney Joshua
Frank George
Galloway Manuel
Garcia, Jr. Dwight
D. Eisenhower Dave
Lindorff
May 17, 2005 Mickey
Z. Petuuche
Gilbert Paul
Craig Roberts Ramzy
Baroud Robert
Jensen / Pat Youngblood Stan
Cox Dave
Zirin Diana
Barahona Website
of the Day
May 16, 2005 Michael
Gillespie Jason
Leopold Jesse
Muldoon Norman
Solomon Robert
Cray Patrick
Cockburn Website
of the Day
May 14 / 15, 2005 Alexander
Cockburn Saul
Landau Gary
Leupp JoAnn
Wypijewski Ben
Tripp Brian
J. Foley Tom
Barry Mitchell
Verter Mike
Ferner Dan
Smith Mark
Scaramella Don
Fitz Diane
Farsetta Michael
Dickinson Ron
Jacobs Fred
Gardner Farrah
Hassen Douglas
Valentine Poets'
Basement Website
of the Weekend
May 13, 2005 Tom
Stephens Patrick
Cockburn Mike
Whitney Chris
Floyd Jenna
Orkin Dave
Lindorff Joshua
Frank Website
of the Day
May 12, 2005 Paul
Craig Roberts Uri
Avnery Greg
Moses Carolyn
Baker Pat
Williams William
S. Lind Jack
Random Gary
Leupp
May 11, 2005 Patrick
Cockburn Kevin
Zeese Christopher
Brauchli Zalman
Amit Robert
Shull Mike
Whitney Dr.
Teresa Whitehurst Norman
Solomon
May 10, 2005 Richard
Drayton Dave
Zirin Jackie
Corr Dave
Lindorff Michael
Donnelly Reza
Fiyouzat Scott
Parkin Stephen
Babcock Alan
Farago Michael
Neumann Website
of the Day
May 9, 2005 Louis
Proyect Robert
Fisk Kevin
Zeese Joshua
Frank Sasha
Kramer Andrew
Wimmer Jeffrey
Webber Jeffrey
St. Clair
May 7 / 8, 2005 Alexander
Cockburn Gary
Leupp Saul
Landau Joe
DeRaymond Daniela
Ponce Heather
Williams Gregory
Elich Anis
Memon John
Chuckman Mike
Whitney Ron
Jacobs Colin
Kalmbacher Lance
Selfa Fred
Gardner Ben
Tripp Mickey
Z. Richard
Joseph Dr.
Susan Block Poets'
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May 6, 2005 Patrick
Cockburn Erin
Yoshioka Sam
Husseini Dave
Lindorff Kevin
Zeese Joshua
Frank Dan
Bacher P.
Sainath
May 5, 2005 Carles
Mutaner Carl
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Hassen Kevin
Zeese Michael
Leonardi Bennett
Ramberg Ray
McGovern Norman
Solomon Nicole
Colson Brian
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May 4, 2005 Colin
Kalmbacher John
Walsh Greg
Moses Ali
Khan Chris
Floyd Linda
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Zirin William
S. Lind Gary
Leupp Website
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Lindorff Brian
Cloughley Ira
Kurzban Seth
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Linebaugh
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Jacobs Stan
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Zeese Vicente
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Cockburn Gabriel
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June 7, 2005 Frustration and Unquiet DesperationLiberation vs. Survival in IraqBy Col. DAN SMITH (Ret.)
On the surface, it is a neutral statement of fact describing the attitude of any civilian population caught up in any armed conflict. But neutrality it is not, for a population cooperates only to the extent necessary and for the duration that one side maintains its troops in a village, a town, or even a region. This was the reality experienced in Vietnam (more on this later); it is the reality in Iraq today. In the context of today's U.S. presence in Iraq, the words express widespread frustration among U.S. troops about the "lack of cooperation" by Iraqis in rooting out the insurgents operating against coalition troops. As already alluded to, this frustration is neither unique to U.S. soldiers in Iraq nor new in the history of war and occupation. Yet it seems as if it has been forgotten by another U.S. administration if not intentionally dismissed by it on the presumption that the benefits of democracy and the allure of freedom will always triumph over tyranny and oppression. In the long run, this may be true, but one must survive the short- and medium-term first. It's a package deal played out in each and every moment for everyone in the war zone; it is also a deal that can end at any moment from a bullet at a checkpoint or a vehicle mounted improvised explosive device. Clearly missing in the rhetoric emanating from Bush administration and Pentagon stalwarts is any sense that they comprehend the nature of this context or "package." Perhaps they are too deeply enthralled in the events that created and sustain the current context. Whatever the cause, this inability to surmount its own orthodoxy undoubtedly contributes to the growing U.S. public's incredulity about the Iraq occupation not to mention Iraqi incredulity about U.S. intentions vis-à-vis their country. For example, White House optimism
about events unfolding in Iraq's political transition are moving
so far beyond "spin" that they remind one of the infamous
"five-o'clock follies" briefings conducted by Military
Assistance Command Vietnam (MACV) representatives. Since at least
the start of 2005, President Bush, Vice President Cheney, Secretary
of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
General Richard Myers and top U.S. field commanders continue
to describe every upsurge of violence as a sign of growing desperation
in the ranks of armed groups fighting occupation forces and Iraqi
"collaborators." Even in the relative safety of Washington, DC as compared to the "Green Zone" in Baghdad, this officer's statement imparts a determination that is so overtly desperate it immediately conjures an image of tense muscles, jutting jaw, and a "devil take the hindmost" approach. At the White House and Pentagon, the tenor of press briefings over the next dozen days did not waver. Came May 30, which this year just happened to be Memorial Day, CNN's "Larry King Live" guests were Vice-President and Mrs. Cheney (interviewed actually the preceding Friday). During the discussion, the Vice-President said; "I think the level of activity that we see today, from a military standpoint, I think will clearly decline. I think they're in the last throes, if you will, of the insurgency." In a rare press conference held the next day, President Bush implicitly endorsed this position: "I not only see the benefits of democracy, but so do the terrorists. And that's why they want to blow people up, indiscriminately kill, in order to shake the will of the Iraqis, or perhaps create a civil war, or to get us to withdraw early." Two days later, on radio and in print, Robert Pape, director of the Chicago Project on Suicide Terrorism at the University of Chicago, noted that democracy as such is completely irrelevant to the insurgent's goal of forcing U.S. troops out of Iraq: "[E]very group mounting a suicide campaign over the last two decades has had a major objective or as its central objective coercing a foreign state that has military forces in what the terrorists see as their homeland to take those forces out." This objective draws added support and detracts from any sympathy for the current Iraqi transitional administration or willingness to support even Iraqi security forces from tactics by U.S. troops who expected to be regarded as liberators. After all, knocking down gates with armored vehicles; cutting open sacks and spilling flour, wheat, sugar, and other foodstuffs; and strewing cloths and kitchen utensils on the floor provides a parallel context of resentment and hatred of foreign occupiers that is stronger than the context of gratitude for the downfall of a brutal dictator. The frustration on the part of the soldiers on the ground in Iraq is reflected in a more sinister attitude: because troops cannot get timely information on the when and where of attacks, they come to regard every Iraqi as suspect and untrustworthy. Such a psychological mindset was widespread in Vietnam, where it played out in many gradations ranging from murderous massacres like My Lai (1968), Thanh Phong (1969) and Quang Ngai and Quang Nam in the Central Highlands (1967) through the abuse, torture, and murder of prisoners. Compounding the frustration of U.S. officers operating on the ground is a shortage of forces. For some six months starting in October 2004, 400 troops from the 25th Infantry Division (Tropic Lightning) were suppose to patrol and cut off infiltration routes in a 10,000 square mile area stretching from the Syrian-Iraq border through Haditha, Hit, Ramadi, and Fallujah to Baghdad. Twice since the start of May, 1,000 or more Marines conducted sweeps in this vast region, claiming 125 insurgents killed. U.S. troop totals now are actually lower than in May 2004 (New York Times, June 3, 2005). This is tantamount to issuing an invitation to anyone opposed to the U.S. occupation of Iraq to use this vast area as a route from a "safe" area (Syria) to the Iraqi capital. If the Pentagon were more attuned to disquieting contexts, it might consider pulling out records and maps of Vietnam. The 25th Infantry Division occupied a base camp at Cu Chi, a district headquarters in Hau Nghia province, where I served from 1968-69. Hau Nghia was created in the 1960s from other provinces in an attempt to thwart infiltration from the North via Cambodia's "Parrot's Beak" (which was aimed at Saigon like an arrow) across the Mekong River to the Capital Region and Saigon. The Viet Cong and North Vietnamese units avoided combat as much as possible because the province was an important transit route to which they did not want to draw constant attention and large U.S. troop concentrations. And while tunnels and Viet Cong underground living quarters would be uncovered, the Viet Cong insurgency in the province was never controlled. The 25th Division soldiers then were frustrated just as much as 25th Division Soldiers are today. Then the U.S. saw itself as the bastion against communism and wars of liberation and protector of South Vietnam. Today the White House proclaims the U.S. the bastion against terror and the liberator of an oppressed people and protector of Iraq. Iraqis, for their part, might prefer less liberation and less protection. Survival could be easier. Col. Daniel Smith, a West Point graduate and Vietnam
veteran, is Senior Fellow on Military Affairs at the Friends
Committee on National Legislation, a Quaker lobby in the public
interest and a commentator for Foreign
Policy in Focus. He can be reached at: dan@fcnl.org
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