Death Rabbit
Thu, 13th May '04, 7:09pm
This was going into the "How Should the US Respond" thread, but before I knew it I'd gone and written a doozy. I apolagize for the length, but it's from the heart.
[Edit - After a quick spellcheck & proofing, and after the wonderful words of encouragement I've received publicly and privately for this piece, I've submitted this piece to both NPR and the New York Times Op-Ed Column. Thanks again, everyone - and if I get a bite you'll be the first to know.
Below I've pasted the edited version that I sent off to them. Thanks again everyone...it means alot. - DR]
Dear New York Times,
At the behest of some friends of mine, I'm sending you something I wrote regarding the murder of Nicholas Berg and the Iraq war. They felt it needed a bigger voice. Thanks.
Andy Rich
Houston, TX
-------
Why I, Apparently, Hate America
I just finished watching the Nicholas Berg beheading video. I knew it would disturb me, but I felt compelled to see it nonetheless. I consider myself a pretty non-squeamish 24-year old man, but that is easily the most horrible thing I've ever seen. It was 10 minutes ago, and my hands are still shaking.
As I read the news headlines, postings on internet blogs, calls for blood, and comments from war supporters claiming that the "liberal media and CBS" are responsible for this man's death, because they showed the Abu Graib pictures on TV, I feel it necessary to explain my position on the war, if for no other reason than to get it down on paper (so to speak) for my own benefit.
I do now and have always supported the war on terrorism. I think these sick bastards should be hunted down and exterminated like the vermin they are. And it is precisely for this reason that I think that waging war on Iraq was a grave mistake.
My country's immediate response to 9/11 was correct. Attacking Afghanistan, where Al Qaeda was based, was the right thing to do. The first 5 months of Operation Enduring Freedom were done very well, a compliment to our fine military. The Taliban regime was toppled, and Al Qaeda was on the run. I strongly believe that had we stayed in Afghanistan, put more troops on the ground there, and kept our focus on Al Qaeda and their operatives, we could have severely weakened Al Qaeda, if not stomped them out altogether. Instead, 5 months after we invaded, our forces were pulled out of Afghanistan to make preparations to invade Iraq - a nation that, despite misleading statements by my president and members of his cabinet, had NOTHING to do with 9/11 or Al Qaeda.
I initially supported going to war with Iraq. I thought, despite my better judgement and every instinct in me, that if my government is doing something as drastic and careless as relenting on the hunt for Bin Laden and Al Qaeda, in order to attack Iraq with evidence of an immediate threat that was vague at best, then they must know something we don't. They must have intelligence SO GOOD that they can't reveal it to the public for security or tactical reasons. So I gave my government the benefit of the doubt, and supported the war in Iraq as well, hoping against hope that WMD would be found and my country's good word being tested would pass with flying colors. I was wrong.
Don't get me wrong here - Saddam Hussein is an evil bastard who needed to be dealt with. I admit I celebrated when his 2 sons were killed. I was glad when his regime was toppled relatively painlessly. I believe the world is better off without men like him running an entire country.
But despite this, and despite the fact that I strongly believe that Iraq needed to be dealt with EVENTUALLY, Iraq was NOT a threat to the United States. It may have been at one point, but it wasn't in the months before we invaded. Anyone who believes otherwise is deluding themselves.
Look at the facts: We crippled Saddam's army in Gulf War I and sanctions prevented him from rebuilding it. This time around, we defeated what was left of that entire military in 2 weeks, easily the fastest and most decisive military victory in modern history. We ruled the skies, as they had little or no Air Force. We entered Iraq by sea completely unchallenged, as they had no navy. And thanks to sanctions, inspections, and intelligence received from the first gulf war, if anyone believes the Pentagon didn't know full well the weapons capability and production manufacturing infrastructure Iraq had at its disposal, they are again deluding themselves. The "we had to go in because they were being secretive" excuse is ludicrous because our government knew full well that Iraq never had any WMD. But they knew that Saddam's well-known secretiveness would create enough doubt that WMD would seem possible, even likely.
If you honestly think the Pentagon was not fully aware of Iraq's WMD capability, you give far too little credit to our intelligence services. If you, like 60% of America, still believe that Saddam Hussein had ANYTHING to do with 9/11, even after Bush admitted, and I quote, "We have no evidence that Saddam Hussein was involved with September the 11th," you pay far too much heed to the myth of the liberal media bias.
Now look at what insisting on fighting a bogus war in Iraq has accomplished. Look beyond the hundreds of billions of dollars paid for by a massive budget deficit and the 700+ American soldiers who died needlessly (if you can). We promised WMD, and not only did we not deliver, but also our president actually has the gall to say, "What's the difference?" when asked how he got it so wrong. As a result, no country will ever believe us again. It should go without saying how dangerous this is, because some day, there really WILL be an immanent threat on our nation. Some day, the world will have nothing to go on but our word alone. And they'll turn their backs on us. And we will have deserved it.
People still seem not to understand that this war is like nothing we've ever faced before, as if comparing this war to past conflicts in Europe is a fair comparison. Times have changed. America has changed. And the enemy and "stage" has most certainly changed. Conservatives and most war supporters think that despite the shame and brutality of events like the Abu Graib prison scandal, the Arab world will eventually learn to accept and respect us. War supporters will say, "Oh, whatever. Previous wars had far, far worse atrocities - Dresden, anyone? - and both sides found ways to get on with their lives afterward." Comments like this show a fundamental naivete for what kind of people we're dealing with here.
Islamic cultures, particularly those in this region, take shame and dishonor very, very seriously. Revenge for a shaming is considered one of the greatest things one can do in the eyes of Allah. It is not uncommon for family members to carry out revenge for grievances committed even generations ago. Holding grudges is pretty standard. Today's child who witnesses his father strip-searched in front of his mother, incredibly insulting to most Arabs, will be tomorrow's enthusiastic Al Qaeda recruit, just itching for his chance to restore his family's honor. It happens every day. And the manner of our occupation gives them a single target, a single entity to blame for that shame: America.
We've also convinced the world that we go wherever we want, do whatever we want, and don't care about the consequences because hey - we're America, the worlds last great superpower...who's going to stop us? Like it or not, that's the world's view of America right now. Just the kind of target the "freedom fighters" believe they will be honored for in heaven with 72 virgins by giving their lives to the cause of defeating. Which brings to my next point...
The worst consequence of all - invading Iraq has allowed Al Qaeda to regroup and regain their strength. As has the Taliban, who is now once again in control of about 2/3 of Afghanistan. Before the war, Al Qaeda was seen as a fringe, loony element in Arab society. Few took them seriously. Osama's own propaganda prophesized that the Great Satan America would attack and occupy, unprovoked, an oil-rich Muslim country. And the Arab world laughed. Then the hubris of Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz and Perle cooked up this great idea to establish Arab Democracy by force...and essentially made Osama right. And the Arab world stopped laughing. We've made Osama bin Laden a hero because we've made him right about us.
There were never any terrorist elements in Iraq, at least none having anything to do with Al Qaeda. But there sure are now, aren't there? It floors me that people still believe that Saddam was in cahoots with Osama, despite the well-known fact that Osama hated Saddam almost as badly as he hated us. To him, Saddam was a "fake Muslim," squandering his power and living like a decadent westerner. His lifestyle and government was an affront to Islam, in Osama's view, because all Arab leaders should lead their people instep with radical Islam. The Saddam/Osama connection is about as likely as a Hillary Clinton/Sean Hannity connection. Yet people continue to believe it.
As a result of all of this, for the first time in my life, I'm scared to be an American in this world. I am now a target of terrorism just because of my country. The men who killed Nick Berg knew he wasn't a soldier, or a diplomat, or a George Bush. He was just a regular guy like me. What scares me is that they didn't care. He was an American, and that was good enough for them.
I'm proud of what my nation stands for, but I'm ashamed of what's become of it. In a nation that allegedly believes in free speech, I can't be critical of my president without being accused of giving aid and comfort to the enemy. I can't point out the obvious disaster of this war without having my patriotism questioned. Somehow I'm not an American unless I'm waving a flag and supporting what I believe to be one of the most disastrous policies our nation has ever willingly executed.
I know my country can be a force for good in this world, but I firmly believe that our current leadership is failing our nation and squandering the good will we've EARNED with the blood of our soldiers from WWI on up. I disapprove, as all Americans have a right to. I think....I KNOW, America is better than this. I demand higher standards of my leaders, and demand they be replaced, because they're failing us.
Despite all this, according to those on the right, I hate America. I drank the "Kerry Kool-Aid."
It's now been 84 minutes since I started writing this...and yes, my hands are still shaking.
[ May 14, 2004, 16:47: Message edited by: Death Rabbit ]
[Edit - After a quick spellcheck & proofing, and after the wonderful words of encouragement I've received publicly and privately for this piece, I've submitted this piece to both NPR and the New York Times Op-Ed Column. Thanks again, everyone - and if I get a bite you'll be the first to know.
Below I've pasted the edited version that I sent off to them. Thanks again everyone...it means alot. - DR]
Dear New York Times,
At the behest of some friends of mine, I'm sending you something I wrote regarding the murder of Nicholas Berg and the Iraq war. They felt it needed a bigger voice. Thanks.
Andy Rich
Houston, TX
-------
Why I, Apparently, Hate America
I just finished watching the Nicholas Berg beheading video. I knew it would disturb me, but I felt compelled to see it nonetheless. I consider myself a pretty non-squeamish 24-year old man, but that is easily the most horrible thing I've ever seen. It was 10 minutes ago, and my hands are still shaking.
As I read the news headlines, postings on internet blogs, calls for blood, and comments from war supporters claiming that the "liberal media and CBS" are responsible for this man's death, because they showed the Abu Graib pictures on TV, I feel it necessary to explain my position on the war, if for no other reason than to get it down on paper (so to speak) for my own benefit.
I do now and have always supported the war on terrorism. I think these sick bastards should be hunted down and exterminated like the vermin they are. And it is precisely for this reason that I think that waging war on Iraq was a grave mistake.
My country's immediate response to 9/11 was correct. Attacking Afghanistan, where Al Qaeda was based, was the right thing to do. The first 5 months of Operation Enduring Freedom were done very well, a compliment to our fine military. The Taliban regime was toppled, and Al Qaeda was on the run. I strongly believe that had we stayed in Afghanistan, put more troops on the ground there, and kept our focus on Al Qaeda and their operatives, we could have severely weakened Al Qaeda, if not stomped them out altogether. Instead, 5 months after we invaded, our forces were pulled out of Afghanistan to make preparations to invade Iraq - a nation that, despite misleading statements by my president and members of his cabinet, had NOTHING to do with 9/11 or Al Qaeda.
I initially supported going to war with Iraq. I thought, despite my better judgement and every instinct in me, that if my government is doing something as drastic and careless as relenting on the hunt for Bin Laden and Al Qaeda, in order to attack Iraq with evidence of an immediate threat that was vague at best, then they must know something we don't. They must have intelligence SO GOOD that they can't reveal it to the public for security or tactical reasons. So I gave my government the benefit of the doubt, and supported the war in Iraq as well, hoping against hope that WMD would be found and my country's good word being tested would pass with flying colors. I was wrong.
Don't get me wrong here - Saddam Hussein is an evil bastard who needed to be dealt with. I admit I celebrated when his 2 sons were killed. I was glad when his regime was toppled relatively painlessly. I believe the world is better off without men like him running an entire country.
But despite this, and despite the fact that I strongly believe that Iraq needed to be dealt with EVENTUALLY, Iraq was NOT a threat to the United States. It may have been at one point, but it wasn't in the months before we invaded. Anyone who believes otherwise is deluding themselves.
Look at the facts: We crippled Saddam's army in Gulf War I and sanctions prevented him from rebuilding it. This time around, we defeated what was left of that entire military in 2 weeks, easily the fastest and most decisive military victory in modern history. We ruled the skies, as they had little or no Air Force. We entered Iraq by sea completely unchallenged, as they had no navy. And thanks to sanctions, inspections, and intelligence received from the first gulf war, if anyone believes the Pentagon didn't know full well the weapons capability and production manufacturing infrastructure Iraq had at its disposal, they are again deluding themselves. The "we had to go in because they were being secretive" excuse is ludicrous because our government knew full well that Iraq never had any WMD. But they knew that Saddam's well-known secretiveness would create enough doubt that WMD would seem possible, even likely.
If you honestly think the Pentagon was not fully aware of Iraq's WMD capability, you give far too little credit to our intelligence services. If you, like 60% of America, still believe that Saddam Hussein had ANYTHING to do with 9/11, even after Bush admitted, and I quote, "We have no evidence that Saddam Hussein was involved with September the 11th," you pay far too much heed to the myth of the liberal media bias.
Now look at what insisting on fighting a bogus war in Iraq has accomplished. Look beyond the hundreds of billions of dollars paid for by a massive budget deficit and the 700+ American soldiers who died needlessly (if you can). We promised WMD, and not only did we not deliver, but also our president actually has the gall to say, "What's the difference?" when asked how he got it so wrong. As a result, no country will ever believe us again. It should go without saying how dangerous this is, because some day, there really WILL be an immanent threat on our nation. Some day, the world will have nothing to go on but our word alone. And they'll turn their backs on us. And we will have deserved it.
People still seem not to understand that this war is like nothing we've ever faced before, as if comparing this war to past conflicts in Europe is a fair comparison. Times have changed. America has changed. And the enemy and "stage" has most certainly changed. Conservatives and most war supporters think that despite the shame and brutality of events like the Abu Graib prison scandal, the Arab world will eventually learn to accept and respect us. War supporters will say, "Oh, whatever. Previous wars had far, far worse atrocities - Dresden, anyone? - and both sides found ways to get on with their lives afterward." Comments like this show a fundamental naivete for what kind of people we're dealing with here.
Islamic cultures, particularly those in this region, take shame and dishonor very, very seriously. Revenge for a shaming is considered one of the greatest things one can do in the eyes of Allah. It is not uncommon for family members to carry out revenge for grievances committed even generations ago. Holding grudges is pretty standard. Today's child who witnesses his father strip-searched in front of his mother, incredibly insulting to most Arabs, will be tomorrow's enthusiastic Al Qaeda recruit, just itching for his chance to restore his family's honor. It happens every day. And the manner of our occupation gives them a single target, a single entity to blame for that shame: America.
We've also convinced the world that we go wherever we want, do whatever we want, and don't care about the consequences because hey - we're America, the worlds last great superpower...who's going to stop us? Like it or not, that's the world's view of America right now. Just the kind of target the "freedom fighters" believe they will be honored for in heaven with 72 virgins by giving their lives to the cause of defeating. Which brings to my next point...
The worst consequence of all - invading Iraq has allowed Al Qaeda to regroup and regain their strength. As has the Taliban, who is now once again in control of about 2/3 of Afghanistan. Before the war, Al Qaeda was seen as a fringe, loony element in Arab society. Few took them seriously. Osama's own propaganda prophesized that the Great Satan America would attack and occupy, unprovoked, an oil-rich Muslim country. And the Arab world laughed. Then the hubris of Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz and Perle cooked up this great idea to establish Arab Democracy by force...and essentially made Osama right. And the Arab world stopped laughing. We've made Osama bin Laden a hero because we've made him right about us.
There were never any terrorist elements in Iraq, at least none having anything to do with Al Qaeda. But there sure are now, aren't there? It floors me that people still believe that Saddam was in cahoots with Osama, despite the well-known fact that Osama hated Saddam almost as badly as he hated us. To him, Saddam was a "fake Muslim," squandering his power and living like a decadent westerner. His lifestyle and government was an affront to Islam, in Osama's view, because all Arab leaders should lead their people instep with radical Islam. The Saddam/Osama connection is about as likely as a Hillary Clinton/Sean Hannity connection. Yet people continue to believe it.
As a result of all of this, for the first time in my life, I'm scared to be an American in this world. I am now a target of terrorism just because of my country. The men who killed Nick Berg knew he wasn't a soldier, or a diplomat, or a George Bush. He was just a regular guy like me. What scares me is that they didn't care. He was an American, and that was good enough for them.
I'm proud of what my nation stands for, but I'm ashamed of what's become of it. In a nation that allegedly believes in free speech, I can't be critical of my president without being accused of giving aid and comfort to the enemy. I can't point out the obvious disaster of this war without having my patriotism questioned. Somehow I'm not an American unless I'm waving a flag and supporting what I believe to be one of the most disastrous policies our nation has ever willingly executed.
I know my country can be a force for good in this world, but I firmly believe that our current leadership is failing our nation and squandering the good will we've EARNED with the blood of our soldiers from WWI on up. I disapprove, as all Americans have a right to. I think....I KNOW, America is better than this. I demand higher standards of my leaders, and demand they be replaced, because they're failing us.
Despite all this, according to those on the right, I hate America. I drank the "Kerry Kool-Aid."
It's now been 84 minutes since I started writing this...and yes, my hands are still shaking.
[ May 14, 2004, 16:47: Message edited by: Death Rabbit ]