Was the Invasion of Iraq justified - Part Two

Is it Justifiable to Invade a Sovereign State?

Was the Invasion of Iraq justified?

What about sanctions? What about the War?

Is it justified to kill innocents, to try to bring down a dictator?

These are questions many people don’t think of, except in the most general terms; they don’t want to think about the fact their government justifies torture, or the murder of innocent children and babies. These are questions which everyone wrestles with, who has some stake in the future of America.

Islam doesn’t permit war crimes, in general. But there are also specific sayings of Mohammed bin Abdullah, pbuh, that specifically warn Muslim soldiers not to kill women and children, rabbis or monks, or old men who do not participate in fighting. When it happened that some women or children were killed, he said, “They are with them.” This suggests that in some cases, when a situation is not the most ideal, that there might be some civilian casualties. That is a far cry from justifying purposeful targeting or otherwise blatant human rights violations. Genocide is not permitted in Islam, nor is rape or pillage.

On the other hand, the hadith that the holy Prophet killed some pagan woman while she was breastfeeding is not something I am familiar with, and can’t comment on that. It isn’t surprising that Christians against Islam preach such things in the open and say this is why Islam is dangerous, and so on. But from the teachings I have I don’t believe that such a thing likely ever happened, and probably the hadith/report is not trustworthy, no matter which hadith scholar reported it, or had it under some authority to include in his hadiths collection. Not all the hadiths in Sahih Bukhari or Sahih Muslim are in fact “sahih”. Sahih suggests that the hadiths are trustworthy, but many weak or abrogated (daif, or mursal) sayings are included in the collections, these two in particular I mention because they are the most authentic writings after the Quran. Of course, they do not at all come close to the Authenticity or authorship of the Holy Book, but they are often referenced by Muslims, particularly scholars and students of Islam.

When a country today invades another, especially when America invaded Iraq and Afghanistan, the cost is immeasurably high in terms of lives and money. The fact that Bush waited for Senate approval before invading shows that he knows it is wise to have the backing of a majority of the government or the most important peoples’ approval, as well as a big percentage of the public’s approval going into a war, or else he wouldn’t have done it. He didn’t need all of the people to support the war, of course, and eventually when Americans got tired of the war, or decided that they didn’t agree with it, more and more, then that led to their questioning of the real motives of the Bush administration. But it is correct to say that the war was not only orchestrated by Bush’s administration or a few important or influential people at the top, but also it was agreed that once they were in Iraq or Afghanistan they wouldn’t be leaving for a long time. It’s incredibly naïve to believe that the government thought they would just go in and out as quickly as possible. That can’t be true, because the cost of deploying to Iraq or Afghanistan (or anywhere overseas) is so great; the American government is in debt, partly as a result of the wars it has fought. The government realizes and so do many of its people that they have to recover their losses, and even start to benefit from their overseas exploits. If they don’t their economy is destined to spiral downward for the unforeseeable future. That appears to be happening all over the country, in many parts, but of course the leadership can take a little belt tightening in stride, it is the poor and middle class who take the brunt of suffering when a deep recession happens. In fact when they are in a depression, the government leaders likely will run for the hills, and it appears that may be what’s happening already, since the Gulf Wars. In fact, cushioning their politicians in built into the system, with the large sums of money they earn, which many say is deserved, but even after they leave office, they are provided for the rest of their natural lives, unlike the rest of the population who must take their chances with whatever they can siphon away for their meager retirement funds, on average not even a tenth of what the rich will comfortably retire on.

For strategic and economic reasons, the Americans are not going to leave Iraq, or Afghanistan, probably any time in the near future. They may redeploy soldiers to other places, but part of the incentive for going to war is economic. For the troops their reasons for joining the army or military, also always include economic incentives; a desire to have steady employment and often the wish to benefit from other programs. While many believe their government is doing the right thing, they also want to know that their families will be taken care of if they don’t come home. Unfortunately for them, the truth of the matter is, many ‘army families’ are suffering and cannot even live without food stamps or charity. The administration’s quagmire is Iraq; it has been none too easy for soldiers and their families to hunker down as they are commanded (as good foot soldiers) literally in fact; but they are the pawns in the big “game” of Middle East Monopoly; it would be easier if they didn’t also have the quagmire of their own disillusionment with the reality of politics and their personal responsibility in some cases for their role in the seedier side of the war on terror, strategies which have placed many of them in the distasteful role of a greasy, small town jailer, which is how many Muslims and Arabs now see them. The animosity has become up close and personal, which is the drawback to controlling people on the ground when you occupy someone else’s country, cities and streets.

Especially in a large and cavernous country like Afghanistan, there is hardly another option to old fashioned hand to hand combat, or house to house searches. Hence, the necessity of the techno savvy administration’s use of unmanned drones, which is much more sanitized and impersonal, meaning the war in Afghanistan and neighboring countries (possibly comfortably settling into Pakistan as well) will be the techno**(meets) Sgt. Slaughter/or/Big Boss Man vs. Chemical Ali* (meets) Iron Sheikh (hometown, Tehran) version of a “Mexican standoff”***.

Note: Readers might not be aware that pro wrestlers often are not what they appear; American wrestler was Muhamed Hasan, while Iron Sheikh, now Col Mustafa, is actually Iranian, so I think it’s okay for me to pit an Iranian (aka) Arab Sheikh/Col against an American (Sgt. Slaughter) even if it isn’t representative of the statistical/political reality.

*Chemical Ali was of course a terrorist, the brother of Saddam Hussein, so not from Afghanistan or Pakistan, either. I just thought if Iron Sheikh wanted someone on his side, maybe someone who could get chemical weapons might prove useful against the enemy. Not that I’d endorse anything like that.

**Techno (e.g. techno pop) is music, which Americans like. But I wasn’t being funny; Techno means technology here, as in weapons technology (e.g. techno weapon)

A ***Mexican standoff historically, means you have three or more groups with opposing interests with the other groups, so all of them have their guns trained on everyone else. It isn’t meant here as any kind of racial slur. I’m all for a good “shoot out”, at least in the movies.



@comments

@Greenapple
 to you, hope you read this:

I encourage you to go to my blog. I often speak about the things being discussed by me in comments. There is more time and space in a blog post than there is in a small comment on YouTube. This is my email Diamondraw4Real@gmail.com.

If you have anything to add, or later send me your perspective on things, you're welcome. I find your attitude to Muslims (surprise, I'm Muslim!) kind of a downer. You sound brainwashed to me. I was born in Canada, and grew up Christian; my parents were very strict. I believe Islam is the truth. I know why ppl think the Qur'an tells Muslims to kill Christians, but that's not true. However, there is always going to be conflict. I rather there wouldn't be, but that is the nature of the world.

The Qur’an exhorts Muslims to strive in killing; to cut off, or amputate the enemy’s hands, or hit their necks. This is combat training, not “murder”. As soldiers in Afghanistan should know, the whole country is like a war zone, anytime they are going in they should beware of the ‘enemy’; yet they should also, not go into villages with the attitude that ever Afghan is an “enemy combatant”. They are the ones who came (voluntarily) halfway across the world, to “smoke out” bin Laden, and the rest of the terrorists. That doesn’t give them a free hand to do whatever they like in a sovereign country, even if they don’t agree with the religious or cultural practices of the majority of the people living there. I don’t agree with the attitudes expressed in the media that somehow these volunteer soldiers are anything than wholly responsible for maintaining a high level of professionalism. There should be no excuses for “bad apples”, no matter how miserable a situation they find themselves in. They signed up for “war” not a day at the beach. As such they should follow the rules (and military laws) in every situation, every task.

There are many aspects in Islam which non-Muslims don't get. You have to be Muslim to understand.Many people would consider me fundamentalist (my practice varies from day to day), but it only causes more confusion when ppl label others. You never know who is behind the veil, or the beard, that's for sure. But don't be spooked, most Muslims I've been around are normal ppl. Not all of them practice like me; maybe some are more "modern" than I am.

(Then also, some are more toward extremist; that means, they are doing some things wrong; like their preaching becomes very tough on other Muslims; some of them think, for example that Muslims like them (they pray on time, and follow the rules strictly, which is good, but they judge others more)shouldn’t supplicate in a certain form (say, “God bless you” for example) if one of the other Muslims who isn’t so strict about prayers, etc. but is not very bad, does something like give up a seat on the bus for him, he won’t say “God bless you” like he would for a Muslim like himself. The fact is, those guys have some wrong things in their ‘beliefs’ which makes them act this way.

Yet, they consider themselves Salafi, as I consider myself Salafi. It’s just the degrees to which we comply in some duties probably does vary. Some people pray at night, some people don’t. It’s not an obligation, but it was the “way” of the Prophet and his companions to do so. Many people wish they could pray at night, although they just haven’t gotten in the habit. Everything is usually a habit, or not. Most Muslims will also eat store-bought products instead of making from scratch, which some people think is wrong, because they believe that most of those product s probably have pork derivatives in them. I’ve taken readymade cake, from a shop, which is made in the stores kitchen, yet certain people still think it is not “halaal” enough. I would say they are being ‘cautious’ and I don’t mind, but I don’t want them to think badly of me for eating those things, either. But these same Muslims don’t mind buying phones for their kids, (maybe not a blackberry) or using internet for their work. (of course they panic if they get email with “haram” content, but then they usually have “computer savvy” friends, too, who will volunteer their time to help them out.) Many of their friends are professionals; esp. lots of doctors of medicine attend Islamic lectures, probably not surprisingly, because they are very caring and God-conscious (among the population) for the most part.

I consider myself a “practicing” Muslim, but here I am on the internet along with so many others. I don't believe we are being left behind. We are just a little slower, in some countries, because of lack of resources, sometimes. I am told Libya doesn't have internet everywhere, but I have spoken to relatives (in-laws) on Skype from Sirte or Bengazi, so it goes to show...

Any lack of education, modernity, or advances we are lagging in, may soon be just a think (or thing) of the past because soon there will be more Muslims from Western nations, either born Muslims; second generation, third generation, or newly converted Muslims, who will bring those things into the “tribe”.

My greater worry is that Muslims will not advance as much in their outlook on life (life is just “enjoyment for a time”) their duties to God and people, their duties to Muslims, their responsibilities to preach Islam in the best way. I’m afraid Muslims will not learn Islam properly, or else, if they are knowledgeable, they won’t put into practice their Islamic knowledge. Allah has warned us against ignorance as well as arrogance.

Sincerely wishing you a good day, D,J.

Arab unrest and the US response

(I will be publishing many posts I had written from the previous 6 months while I was away)

“The west ravaged and destroyed Afghanistan for years “, says Brzezinski in an interview with Fareed Zakaria of CNN.

Libya, and Yemen and Syria are thorny issues.

It has approached the Libyan crisis well”, he had said at the time about Obama administration’s role in the conflict before the lynching of the late leader (Gaddafi) by rebels.

ON the other hand, in other conflicts, the US should not be in the forefront of the military initiative.

“There can be a slight gap between (our) words and actions”, he had said.

The West totally ignored Afghanistan (after the end of the war with Russia) and then Taliban appeared, he explains.

Concerning future relations in the region; “Iran is more hostile while Egypt will be more difficult”, he says.

Fareed Zakaria explains, we approve of the Arab uprisings, but may make things more difficult for American foreign policy issues.

The masses are more driven and less patient, explains Brzezinski.

It’s in Israel’s interest to move forward (now).

I particularly have in mind Egypt and potentially Jordan.

The New York Times “story of a showdown likely in the UN” is worrying. Will the UN vote for Palestinian independence? He asks.

“The time is against us”, he said. US voted against UN resolution despite the wording being like the American position, “conveying that it is powerless,” but it is a “redeemable” mistake, he points out.

The UN Special Rapporteur is as American as Apple Pie

 

Richard Falk may be engineering himself between a rock and a hard place. But why does he?

I don’t know much about the man, except what I’ve seen of him on the internet. His activities; writings, blog, UN special Rapporteur posting, Professor Emeritus at one University, and Visiting Special at another, all point to the fact, this person is serious. He may also be compromised.

Why not give up your UN posting? Why not ‘resign’ before you are sacked? Is it the prestige, or the money you seek? How much does a posting like that pay? Not to mention, how much do you make with all the articles you write, your opinion pieces?

Sure, he is allowed to his opinions, like everyone else. I don’t even argue where he is coming from. But, isn’t it hypocritical to keep a UN posting, and at the same time tell the UN off? I don’t know it seems to me to be a compromising position. Since you think so poorly of the UN in its lack of progress on the Middle East or World Peace processes, why not resign on principle? Is it a posting with special status, such that you are like another Watchdog? So you can’t be sacked? But then how can others in the UN demand your firing, if you are somehow protected? If they insist, will you be made to leave against your will?

I’m not an expert on Politics, or any field. But I suspect, you can’t be fired, or there are people who don’t want you fired. If the ‘nays’ are greater than the ‘ayes’, then you will remain the UN Special Rapporteur (on Palestinian issues).

Is it a cushy job? Seems to me it would have to be; lots of free air miles, hotel accommodation, maybe. I wouldn’t mind a UN posting, but I don’t have the knowledge or the experience to earn such. It’s almost like a reward for all the long years of writing pieces that make some Americans’ neck hair salute.

Americans will do anything for money, in that sense at least, Richard is as American as Apple Pie with ice cream.

Just one more question, “Who’s your daddy?”*

DD – I like to write silly stuff sometimes, this is one of those times. As John Candy said in one of his roles, “There’s a time to act and a time to think; and this man has no time to think”.

* A line from the movie, “Master of Disguise”, which was pretty hilarious, and sometimes not so much. Michael Moore says it in his anti Bush production, I forget the name.