OH! WHAT A GLORIOUS WAR!

By,

John Roberts(2005)

Well! Our Australian boys (and girls) in Iraq must be having a lovely time, enjoying the glorious sunshine of the Middle East. None of them have, as yet, we understand, been killed or injured in this horrific conflict, apart from an unfortunate Cameraman, not a member of the Armed Forces, but a civilian doing his job in a highly dangerous place. This loss is grievous in itself and, increasingly so, as his death was occasioned by a “Suicide Bomber”, who himself died in the incident.

A news report indicated, today,(Sat 5 Apr) that only some thirteen or so US soldiers have been killed in the War against Iraq, although an uncertain number have died as a result of accident or “friendly fire”. That a much greater number of Iraqis have been killed or disabled seems likely, given the incidence of saturation bombing, reported during the past two weeks. Many civilians and children have also been killed or injured, as a result of this bombing, in which anti-personnel, cluster bombs, have been used. One hears little or nothing concerning any British or Australian casualties of the War, which is surprising, even taking into consideration the tremendous advantage possessed by the invaders over the Iraqi defence forces.

In addition to the deaths and injury, a very great deal of damage has been inflicted on property and military equipment. Our aeroplanes have been involved in attacking “enemy” tanks and ground troops and there can be no doubt that these offensive sorties have resulted in the death of many Iraqi soldiers. Our ships have also been used to bombard Iraqi positions, but with how much effectiveness, in terms of death or injury, it would be difficult to assess. One thing is certain, that the massive use of modern military might by the US and its “Allies”, (a friendly term), with hi-tech equipment and infra-red scopes, etc., has left the Iraqi Armed Forces at a grave disadvantage. This was, indeed, the case in the Gulf War of l990/1, when thousands of Iraqi soldiers and civilians were killed, with no actual combat deaths in the attacking forces.

On our Television screens in Australia, last weekend, (30 March) we were privileged to observe our Prime Minister, John Howard, entertaining the relatives of members of our Forces who are presently serving in Iraq. Also in attendance was the “Governor-General”, a former Anglican Parson, named, I believe, Hollingsworth. This gentleman was formerly an Archbishop of the Anglican Church (A Christian, Protestant body) but, being a close personal friend of John Howard, was appointed to the mainly ceremonial position of “Governor-General” a year or so ago. This position makes the Rev Hollingsworth the nominal Commander-in-Chief of the Australian Defence Forces: a rather incompatible relationship, to my mind, to that of a member of the Cloth. Of course, there are many precedents for Bishops, Archbishops and even Popes to take the field at the head of their armies on the field of battle, although nobody expects the Right Reverend gentleman to follow suit.

The Anglican Church (of which I was a member, as a lad) is, notoriously, a supporter of the establishment and is, generally, extremely conservative in its political outlook. Well! Our Governor-General, (God Bless Him!), was observed at the Garden Party held by Mr. Howard at Kirribilli House, on the North Shore of Sydney Harbour. He was joining-in, most cordially, in the entertainment, during which he gave a patriotic and rousing speech, I believe, calling for “Three Cheers!” for our lads and lasses serving overseas. It was evident that all present were really enjoying themselves, including Mr Howard, who, no doubt, felt that the Deity, Himself, was smiling benignantly down upon the proceedings, as the weather was truly glorious.

Our media has, of course, been reporting the progress of the “War to liberate the people of Iraq from the clutches of that fiend, Saddam Hussein”. Many have, in fact, been “liberated” and are, no doubt, glad to avail themselves of the chance of a meal and a cup of fresh water, once the tide of war has passed them by: those, that is, who have been so fortunate as to survive the holocaust. We are advised by our local propaganda machine, that the progress of the invasion has been satisfactory and, indeed, it has been a remarkable logistic achievement for the US and British forces to be able to bring freedom to so many Iraqis, even if it is the “Freedom of Death”. Nobody doubts the capacity of the US War Machine to do just this.

Many Shi-ite Iraqis, who have had a pretty raw deal from Saddam Hussein and Co., for a number of years, are welcoming the invaders and, even co-operating with the Americans and British against the Iraqi Armed Forces.

As the Americans enter Baghdad, the likelihood of a bloody and destructive conflict seems more and more probable. No doubt, many Iraqi soldiers have been killed and disabled by the constant heavy bombing of their lines by the United States Air Force. But there are an unknown number of soldiers still alive, many of whom must be determined to fight for their country, if not for their leader. In addition, there are reported to be many volunteer fighters, incensed by the constant bullying of Islamic nations by the USA, who are anxious to contribute to the defence of Iraq. Whether the superior technology of the US weapons will quickly defeat these people, in the course of guerrilla warfare, remains to be seen. What does seem certain, is that the casualty lists, so far as the invading armies are concerned, will rise. If this happens, the popularity of the War with the people of the USA, will decline.

Here in Australia, media reporting has been very much a “matter of fact” affair. With Television and Press in the control of US economic interests, i.e. the Murdoch Empire, or otherwise answerable to the particular faction, in power in Canberra, there has been a marked bias in favour of the conflict. There has been some reporting of local demonstrations against the War, showing Police manhandling demonstrators, particularly juveniles, who tend to express their feelings rather freely. But questions as to the morality of this war have been largely ignored by the Capitalist Press and Media. There has been little reference to the fact that large numbers of Iraqis are being killed, with no emphasis upon the fact that there is no possible justification for the infliction of such unbelievable horrors upon a nation such as Iraq, which has suffered continuously since the Gulf War of thirteen years ago. There has been no weakening of the grip by the USA over the nation of Iraq, which has been bombed repeatedly and exposed to crippling sanctions, since l990: ostensibly under the authority of the United Nations. These crimes have been abetted by Britain. Iraq has been in no position to threaten any other country during this period. Indeed, the evils complained about by American Politicians, are evils for which the USA itself is primarily responsible. As to the United Nations: its handling of the Iraq situation reveals, quite clearly, the extent of the subservience of that body to the influence of the United States. Only lately, has it chosen to protest against this criminal behaviour on the part of the USA, which reveals the extent of its ineffectiveness as a disciplinary body. George W. Bush is quite right on this point: the United Nations is irrelevant, particularly when it is a question of controlling the belligerence of the USA.

We have been kept “up to date” with the progress of events here in Australia and have been privileged to have the opinions of several “Military Analysts” from around the Globe, who evidently are well-versed in such things as the development of military equipment and killing machinery, composition of military units, etc.. Some of these “opinions” are objective, some clearly immature and biased in favour of the establishment. Most tell us nothing that we do not already know. What is being made quite clear, once again, is that if one goes to war against the United States at the present time, one will, quite probably, not live to regret it. In this instance, it is the USA itself that has “gone to war” and is reasonably confident that it will defeat Saddam and his boys and take over control of Iraq. That is its objective and G.W. Bush has made it clear that he is not going to relinquish control of this lovely oil deposit until he has worked out a scheme by which he will have brought Iraqi Oil within the bosom of US suzerainty.

As an Englishman, it is a matter of great personal shame for me to consider that the bombing of Iraq has been carried-out by aircraft taking off from British Airfields. As a child I experienced the bombing of Manchester during World War Two. It is also a matter of regret to have to acknowledge that British soldiers have been party to this monstrous invasion of a sovereign State. Iraq posed no threat to anybody and certainly not to either Britain, the USA or this island of Australia, situated as it is, far, far away from the influence of Saddam Hussein. This War hammers another nail into the coffin of Britain’s reputation for good-faith and fair-dealing. I wonder what motivates people like Tony Blair, who poses as the leader of Britain’s “New Labour Party”. Perhaps I have been deceiving myself all along: perhaps there never has been such a standard of morality and good-will within the British psyche, as I have formerly held. The political outlook for the people of that once happy isle appears, to me, to be decidedly bleak.

Much has been made by the spokesmen for the United States, regarding the enormity of the crimes committed by Saddam Hussein and his personal clique of generals. One might be forgiven for feeling that Iraqis are all named, “Saddam Hussein”, and that it is, therefore, perfectly in order for our good, honest, kindly and well-disposed boys and girls to be turned into professional killers, who can be sent to eradicate this disease from amid the Islamic Nations of the Middle-East. On last reports it appears that their mission is about to be accomplished with minimum additional blood-letting. If true, it will be a wonderful achievement by the “Allied” Forces, to have wiped out Iraq’s Army without suffering significant, or indeed, any losses. If thousands of Iraqis have died or been maimed and blinded: “tough cheddar!”: they asked for it and they have got it. So long as our dear ones return home safe and sound, we rest content.

However, it is still not finally determined that the War against Saddam is over and we all, I am sure, fervently pray (that is, those of us who do so, from time to time) that our troops will return home safe and sound. How pleased will our parsons be, if they do not have to pronounce funeral orations over the dead bodies of our children. Not so, the Iraqis: there will be much wailing and weeping for their dead: men, women and children. They will need to contain their sorrow and anger, trusting to the text, “Vengeance is mine”, saith the Lord, “I will repay!” Although, here I overlook the fact that Muslims are neither Christians, nor Jews. Perhaps they worship some other God!?

What a pity it is that our good-living Christians and regular Church-goers, who support this war, do not recall the further text: “In as much as ye have done it unto one of these my little ones, ye have done it unto me!” We can choose to ignore the validity of this truth, yet it simply means that we cannot deny responsibility for our actions in this life. Those who lightly take upon themselves the destruction of their fellow men and women should think upon these things, for there will be no escape from the effect of their conduct, in the final analysis. Such analysis comes to all, high or low, rich and poor. If you go about making life a hell for others, you will invariably create similar conditions for yourself, both here in this life and in the future state.

Of course, such reasonings are, nowadays, unfashionable and fatuous and we are all too busy getting a living, to think, very deeply, regarding questions of right and wrong. Yet, it is really very simple: “Do as you would be done by!” and you will avoid the major pitfalls of this life: a great opportunity for constructive, as opposed to wicked conduct.

I believe that those men, who have done this thing, have surrendered themselves to the lust for power and pride. They do not think about the future but only the present and the gratification of those things that they value: the “greetings in the market-places and chief seats at feasts!” Human nature does not change, nor do these folk read history or ponder their place in the world. Posterity will show that they were wrong and they, themselves, will one day be obliged to acknowledge their error. Of that I am convinced.

In the final analysis, it does not matter much whether succeeding generations of humankind destroy one another. Nor, indeed, whether some clown does not, in the foreseeable future, set about the total destruction of life on Earth.

We are all part and parcel of the continuous evolution of the species and must try to be philosophical, regarding the particular course that events take during our own lives. But it does assist our development if we try, just a little, to sort out our ideas and formulate for ourselves a personal view of the basis and meaning of life. For those who seek to kill their fellow men, such things are futile and meaningless and only the immediate present has any validity. For me, at least, I think it a blessing, indeed, if I can go to sleep at night and rest peacefully until the morning. Some wise person stated, once, “There is no rest for the wicked!” and I would not, personally, like to think that I had been guilty of causing the death of any of my fellows, of whatever nationality or belief. I don’t think I would rest content, in the dark hours of the night.

What we all have to realize, is that the United States has been busily developing and perfecting its War Machine, until it has reached the point of being the most formidable and terrifying instrument of Mass, and I mean: MASS DESTRUCTION! It has been used, repeatedly against helpless nations and, wherever it has been itself unable to act belligerently against the innocent, it has used intermediaries, such as Saddam Hussein, to test its weaponry. There is no doubt that this weaponry will be used by the USA as it sees fit and against any nation which objects to its tyranny and military and economic control of the world. This threat to all life on Earth must be made clear. I am not an “Armageddonist!” and reject the concept of death and judgement. However, such is the nature of the thugs who presently control all this armament, that there will be an ever-present danger of nuclear war and the annihilation of all life on this planet, in the foreseeable future.

There is only one way to limit or curtail such a threat and that is by the establishment of trade sanctions by all other nations of the world, against this monster. All thinking people have to understand this need and stop buying products manufactured or owned by US interests. Britain will be obliged, sooner or later, to sever its ties with America and understand its need to give its whole support to the European Union, which should be enlarged and which should also break away from US hegemony. Such a step would, necessarily, involve sacrifices, yet they will be incomparable to the harm that will ensue, if the USA is permitted to continue its present policy of world domination. NATO must be disbanded and the European Forces be amalgamated into one disciplined and independent fighting force. Russia and China should be invited to join a European-Asian Economic Union, free from American interference.

Individuals can themselves help to destroy US economic control by persistently boycotting all US products: particularly motor vehicles. So far as Australia is concerned, this idea would be laughable, as we already are controlled, “hook, line and sinker”, by US interests. Our politicians seem to be incapable of anything but obedience to their US masters.

It may be already too late to “stop the rot “, but if these simple steps are not taken, the United States will never get the message: that we object to its intolerable interference in our lives, who simply want to get on with the business of making a reasonable living, without our hopes of happiness being obliterated by the might of a corrupt and decadent military power.

Given this scenario, progress is still a long way away.

“Is it, O Man, with such discordant noises,

with such accursed instruments as these.

Thou drownest Nature’s sweet and kindly voices

and jarrest the celestial harmonies!?”

H. W. Longfellow (The Arsenal at Springfield)

Finis

John Roberts

Austinmer,

NSW

5th April 2003.

FOOTNOTE :

Well, casualty figures given today, 8 April, indicate a somewhat higher number of deaths in US ranks: 9l, and 27 for the British Forces. How many, if any, Australians are dead or wounded is a mystery to me. I don’t know if anybody else has heard anything. Perhaps they have all been wisely keeping their heads down. The contemptible Iraqis, on the other hand, have lost some untold thousands of soldiers and large numbers of civilians. We probably never will know the exact number.

Meanwhile, the killing continues and one is, only now, beginning to think that there may soon be an end to the carnage. Then the US and British troops will become very “pally” with the surviving Iraqis, so long as it suits their convenience. From the point of view of the latter, they will, no doubt, be very pleased to feel safe once more, whether from Saddam or their “liberators”.

Australian “Pollies” seem to be having second thoughts about this onslaught upon the people of Iraq and have been trying to influence the Bush Killing Corp’n., to let the UN have a go at sorting out the mess. As, I mentioned herein, this will not happen until the Yanks have secured the largest slice of the cake.

From the point of view of US Undertakers, business will not be booming just at present, but better times might come along, who knows? Here “Down-under”, it looks like being a total write-off. However, those with interests in the US Armaments Industry will be pleased, in view of the great stimulus received in recent weeks. All things considered, their stocks are very sound at the moment.

J. Roberts

11 August 05

mailto:robertsjno@gmail.com