Comments on: When will Tom Switzer condemn the war on terror? http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/02/09/when-will-tom-switzer-condemn-the-war-on-terror/ now with extra source Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:58:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Naomi Cartledge http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/02/09/when-will-tom-switzer-condemn-the-war-on-terror/#comment-3964 Naomi Cartledge Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-3964 The first honest thing would be, for people to admit, that invading both Afghanistan and Iraq had little to do with ryhme or reason, but more to do with oil and having a 'presence' in the Middle East. They should also admit, that the over 1,300,000 deaths in Iraq, the 4 million who are displaced, and the billions of dollars of damage are war crimes, and those responsible should be called to account. Discussing both Iraq and Afghanistan in cold terms, only exaccerbates the degree of the crimes committed. <br /><br />The Bush Administration intended to invade both these countries, and all they needed was another Pearl Harbour to give them a 'credible' excuse - 9/11 gave them the impetus for that. They lied their way into invading a sovereign nation (Iraq) that they knew was not even a threat to its neighbour, let alone the rest of the world. When you embark on such actions of horror - you need more 'horror programs' to ensure its enabled, hence Guatanamo, renditions, invading american homes without reason or judicial permission, and embark on hideous legislation like the PATRIOT Act, and give permission for the torture of 'suspects'?<br /><br />There is enough evidence available now, that puts the blame, the lies, the illegal activities at the feet of the Bush/Blair and Howard administrations. Failure to speak the truth publicly, only allows the precedent for it to be done again - and again! The ultra right must be shown, that the World does not want this type of behaviour to go unpunished; it also achieves the opposite to what we were told - it only causes more hatred and 'terrorist attacks', and is a breeding ground for so-called terrorist groups to engage more young people into its web. <br /><br />We hear much of the 'innocent lives' lost in the west from terrorists, but refuse to acknowledge state sponsored terrorism causing deaths, horrific injuries, and destruction to innocent residents of Afghanistan & Iraq. What hypocrisy? Throwing shoes is a serious offence, but cluster bombs??? The first honest thing would be, for people to admit, that invading both Afghanistan and Iraq had little to do with ryhme or reason, but more to do with oil and having a ‘presence’ in the Middle East. They should also admit, that the over 1,300,000 deaths in Iraq, the 4 million who are displaced, and the billions of dollars of damage are war crimes, and those responsible should be called to account. Discussing both Iraq and Afghanistan in cold terms, only exaccerbates the degree of the crimes committed.

The Bush Administration intended to invade both these countries, and all they needed was another Pearl Harbour to give them a ‘credible’ excuse - 9/11 gave them the impetus for that. They lied their way into invading a sovereign nation (Iraq) that they knew was not even a threat to its neighbour, let alone the rest of the world. When you embark on such actions of horror - you need more ‘horror programs’ to ensure its enabled, hence Guatanamo, renditions, invading american homes without reason or judicial permission, and embark on hideous legislation like the PATRIOT Act, and give permission for the torture of ‘suspects’?

There is enough evidence available now, that puts the blame, the lies, the illegal activities at the feet of the Bush/Blair and Howard administrations. Failure to speak the truth publicly, only allows the precedent for it to be done again - and again! The ultra right must be shown, that the World does not want this type of behaviour to go unpunished; it also achieves the opposite to what we were told - it only causes more hatred and ‘terrorist attacks’, and is a breeding ground for so-called terrorist groups to engage more young people into its web.

We hear much of the ‘innocent lives’ lost in the west from terrorists, but refuse to acknowledge state sponsored terrorism causing deaths, horrific injuries, and destruction to innocent residents of Afghanistan & Iraq. What hypocrisy? Throwing shoes is a serious offence, but cluster bombs???

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