Since Amr Moussa, the secretary-general of the Arab League, started warning that a US invasion of Iraq would \"open the gates of hell,\" the retort that has been flying around Iraqi exiles' websites is, \"Good! We'd like to get out!\"
It got me wondering: What if you antiwar protesters and politicians succeed in stopping a US-led war to change the regime in Baghdad? What then will you do?
Will you also demonstrate and demand \"peaceful\" actions to cure the abysmal human rights violations of the Iraqi people under the rule of Saddam Hussein?
Or, will you simply forget about us Iraqis once you discredit George W. Bush?
Will you demand that the United Nations send human rights inspectors to Iraq? Or are you only interested in weapons of \"mass destruction\" inspections, not of \"mass torture\" practices?
Will you also insist that such human rights inspectors be given time to discover Hussein's secret prisons and coercion as you do for the weapons inspectors? Or will you simply accept a \"clean bill of health\" if you can't find the thousands of buried corpses?
Will you pressure your own countries to host millions more Iraqi refugees (estimated now at 4 million) fleeing Hussein's brutality?Or will you prefer they stay in bondage?
Will you vigorously demand an international tribunal to indict Hussein's regime for crimes against humanity? Or will you simply dismiss him as \"another\" dictator of a \"sovereign\" country?
Will you question why Hussein builds lavish palaces while his people are suffering? Or will you simply blame it all on UN sanctions and US \"hegemony?\"
Will you decry the hypocritical oil and arms commerce of France, Germany, Russia, and China with the butcher of Baghdad? Or are you only against US interests in Iraqi oil?
Will you expose ethnic cleansing of native Iraqi non-Arabs (Kurds, Assyrians, Chaldeans, Turkomens), non-Sunni-Muslims (Shiite), and non-Muslims (Christians, Mandaens, Yezidis)? Or are these not equivalent to the cleansing of Bosnians and Kosovars?
Will you show concern about the brutal silencing of the \"Iraqi street\"? Or are you only worried about the orchestrated noises of \"Arab and Islamist streets\" outside Iraq?
Will you hear the cries of Iraqis executed in acid tanks in Baghdad? the Iraqi women raped in front of their husbands and fathers to extract confessions? Or of children tortured in front of their parents? Or of families billed for the bullets used to execute military \"deserters\" in front of their own homes?
No. I suspect that most of you will simply retire to your cappucino cafes to brainstorm the next hot topic to protest, and that you will simply forget about us Iraqis, once you succeed in discrediting President Bush.
Please, prove me wrong.
<\/p>\n","contact":"","link":"http:\/\/www.csmonitor.com\/2003\/0226\/p11s02-coop.html","address":"","phone":"","parent_id":0,"mime_type":"text\/plain","summary":"To publish an unsigned opinion piece is an exception to the Monitor's policy. But the views expressed here, if put with a name, could endanger the writer's extended family in Baghdad. The author - known to Monitor staff - was born and raised in Iraq. Now a US citizen with a business that requires extensive world travel, the author is in frequent touch with the Iraqi diaspora but is not connected with organized opposition to Saddam Hussein. ","numcomment":15,"fileurl":"\/uploads\/","filesize":null,"article_url":"\/news\/2003\/03\/35520.php"},"attachments":[],"comments":[{"id":35543,"heading":"Will the Christian Science Monitor Ever Represent True Christian Values?","article":"A flimsy piece of propaganda by a right-wing institution that is probably a forgery like\r\nthose supposed documents by "Iraqi officials" that suggesed they were trying to \r\nbuy nuclear arms. The excuse of protecting the safety of the anonymous person\r\nwho posted it is a give away.\r\n\r\nMy question is will the Christian Science monitor ever live up to the claim of its\r\ntitle and not just be another orifice for discharging right-wing capitalist blather. They\r\ndon't believe that the US is an imperialist nation and they support tax breaks for the\r\nrich and corporations. But they forget 1.) it is easier for a camel to pass through the\r\neye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the gates of heaven, 2.) making money\r\noff god and his son is a major sin, don't forget what christ did to the money-chasers\r\nin the temple, 3.) war is the biggest sin (thou shall not kill, turn the other cheek) of\r\nthem all.\r\n\r\nMy question to the hypocrit science network is\r\nWill they apply the same pressure to the US state department to find a non-violent means\r\nof solving the solution in iraq rather than given a free voice to the warmongerers (sinners)\r\nand imperialist capitalists (hell awaits your ignorant souls)? \r\n\r\nIf they know about these atrocities in iraq then why aren't they supporting human rights\r\nefforts to verify these claims and deal with them through peaceful negotiation, rather than\r\nindirectly validating more killing. Eye for an eye is not christian either.\r\n\r\nTo characterize the anti-war movement as simply a bourgeois venture (coffee houses\r\nand cappucinos) is an idiotic assualt on the true christians who oppose Saddam, Bush\r\nand the rush toward genocide.\r\n\r\nWill the CS monitor ever fess up to what it really is? A forum for right-wingers, so called\r\n"christian fundamentalists" (the truely lost souls of this nation), and CIA propaganda.\r\n\r\npeace..\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n","author":"anahuac","parent_id":35520,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-03-14 17:26:02","modified":"2003-03-14 17:26:02","fileurl":""},{"id":35576,"heading":"He has a point","article":"This mobilization of marchers is great, because it signals a real change in the hearts of Americans and others everywhere. But, we must insure that if we are asking for peace, the Iraqi people must have more than ever, a chance. And so, after all is said and done, we must remember Amnesty International, and all other organizations who help bring peace through non violent means, and use our new found power and kinship to help the people of all dictatorships. We should ask for human rights inspectors, what harm could it do?","author":"mymicz","parent_id":35520,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-03-14 20:33:26","modified":"2003-03-14 20:33:26","fileurl":""},{"id":35642,"heading":"ED\/OP","article":"Why get upset? This is a repost of an ED\/OP where any fool can shout into a bull horn --Just like me! \r\n\r\nYou can't see me on tv, but I write frequently, hoping my blathering gibberish appeals to the mob.\r\n\r\n(over the rainbow, hum it)\r\nSomeday, when I am famous, way up high, I'll write a letter with my name scribed to which I will personally sign.\r\nOh, way up in the pretty tree where you can kiss my ass again....\r\nblah blah\r\n\r\nfine, go back to drinking your cafe latte or whatever it is that privileged people do.","author":"CSMonitor Repost Bores","parent_id":35520,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-03-15 00:31:49","modified":"2003-03-15 00:31:49","fileurl":""},{"id":35646,"heading":"mobilization of marchers","article":"
Does not look like the mobilization of marchers is signaling a real change in the hearts of Americans!\r\n 10. Do you support or oppose U.S. military action to disarm Iraq and remove Iraqi President Saddam Hussein? Is that (support\/oppose) strongly or just somewhat?<\/b><\/p> \r\n\t\t\t \r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t **Added wording: " . . . to disarm Iraq and . . ." I agree my coding has suck! But not going to stop for you I agree my coding has suck! "\r\n\r\nHAHAHAHA\r\n\r\nHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH\r\n\r\nomg your coding has so much suck i just sprayed coffee all over my screen","author":"ROFL in Ohio","parent_id":35520,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-03-15 01:49:03","modified":"2003-03-15 01:49:03","fileurl":""},{"id":35677,"heading":"ITS STILL FUNNY!","article":"Man, thank you, seriously. It has been such a grim time lately, watching america descent into this mindless madness. I have had very few occasions to laugh, and your sorry ass coding skillz have provided just such an opportunity.\r\n\r\nSo, thank you. \r\n\r\nHowever, this doesn't mean you should attempt any further HTML. Tragedy is only comedic for a short time, then it's just tragedy again, so.... stop, please. Thanks.","author":"HHAHAHA pOio","parent_id":35520,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-03-15 02:05:03","modified":"2003-03-15 02:05:03","fileurl":""},{"id":35681,"heading":"HAHAHAHAHAHA","article":" I agree my coding has sucked! But not going to stop for you \r\n\r\n
\r\n <\/td>\r\n ---<\/td>\r\n Support<\/td>\r\n ---<\/td>\r\n <\/td>\r\n ---<\/td>\r\n ---<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n\r\n \r\n <\/td>\r\n TOT<\/td>\r\n Strngly<\/td>\r\n Smwht<\/td>\r\n TOT<\/td>\r\n Smwht<\/td>\r\n Strngly<\/td>\r\n (NS)<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n\r\n \r\n 11-12 Mar 03**<\/td>\r\n 71%<\/td>\r\n 54<\/td>\r\n 17<\/td>\r\n 20<\/td>\r\n 6<\/td>\r\n 14<\/td>\r\n 9<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n\r\n \r\n 25-26 Feb 03**<\/td>\r\n 71%<\/td>\r\n 51<\/td>\r\n 20<\/td>\r\n 24<\/td>\r\n 9<\/td>\r\n 15<\/td>\r\n 5<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n\r\n \r\n 11-12 Feb 03**<\/td>\r\n 69%<\/td>\r\n 51<\/td>\r\n 18<\/td>\r\n 23<\/td>\r\n 10<\/td>\r\n 13<\/td>\r\n 8<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n\r\n \r\n 29-30 Jan 03**<\/td>\r\n 67%<\/td>\r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/td>\r\n 21<\/td>\r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/td>\r\n 12<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n\r\n \r\n 14-15 Jan 03**<\/td>\r\n 67%<\/td>\r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/td>\r\n 25 <\/td>\r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/td>\r\n 8<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n\r\n \r\n 17-18 Dec 02**<\/td>\r\n 65%<\/td>\r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/td>\r\n 23<\/td>\r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/td>\r\n 12 <\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n\r\n \r\n 19-20 Nov 02**<\/td>\r\n 68%<\/td>\r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/td>\r\n 18<\/td>\r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/td>\r\n 14 <\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n\r\n \r\n 22-23 Oct 02 LV**<\/td>\r\n 62%<\/td>\r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/td>\r\n 27<\/td>\r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/td>\r\n 11<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n\r\n \r\n 8-9 Oct 02 LV**<\/td>\r\n 72%<\/td>\r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/td>\r\n 17<\/td>\r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/td>\r\n 11<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n\r\n \r\n 24-25 Sep 02<\/td>\r\n 58%<\/td>\r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/td>\r\n 27<\/td>\r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/td>\r\n 15<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n\r\n \r\n 8-9 Sep 02<\/td>\r\n 66%<\/td>\r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/td>\r\n 22<\/td>\r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/td>\r\n 12<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n\r\n \r\n 6-7 Aug 02<\/td>\r\n 69%<\/td>\r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/td>\r\n 22<\/td>\r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/td>\r\n 9<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n\r\n \r\n 9-10 Jul 02<\/td>\r\n 72%<\/td>\r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/td>\r\n 18<\/td>\r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/td>\r\n 10<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n\r\n \r\n 30 Apr-1 May 02<\/td>\r\n 70%<\/td>\r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/td>\r\n 20<\/td>\r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/td>\r\n 10<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n\r\n \r\n 30-31 Jan 02<\/td>\r\n 74%<\/td>\r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/td>\r\n 15<\/td>\r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/td>\r\n 11<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n\r\n \r\n 28-29 Nov 01*<\/td>\r\n 77%<\/td>\r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/td>\r\n 22<\/td>\r\n <\/td>\r\n <\/td>\r\n 11 <\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table><\/p> \r\n
\r\n*Wording: " . . . action against Iraq and Iraqi President Saddam Hussein"<\/p> ","author":"Skinner","parent_id":35520,"mime_type":"text\/html","created":"2003-03-15 00:48:53","modified":"2003-03-15 00:48:53","fileurl":""},{"id":35651,"heading":"hmmm","article":"hhmmm.... chart seems, uhh, not very carefully put together. maybe you could improve it.\r\n\r\ncan't wait for this weekend's protests. everybody going? it'll be Saturday at noon in downtown L.A. (Olympic and Broadway)\r\n\r\n","author":"UI","parent_id":35520,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-03-15 01:02:12","modified":"2003-03-15 01:02:12","fileurl":""},{"id":35653,"heading":"Poll Source","article":"<\/font> Chart Source Fox News <\/h3>\r\n\r\n http:\/\/foxnews.com\/story\/0,2933,81023,00.html\r\n\r\n","author":"Skinner","parent_id":35520,"mime_type":"text\/html","created":"2003-03-15 01:08:26","modified":"2003-03-15 01:08:26","fileurl":""},{"id":35655,"heading":"Opinion Poll from Fox News? neat-- this is indymedia, got anything authentic?","article":"perfectly well intended folks were surveyed yesterday by our war correspondent, Henry Lunderfiste about the ends and outs of the most recent DC. vernacular\r\n\r\nExcuse, me sir.,\r\n \r\n\u201cYou want sa-more F-R-I-E-S?\u201d\r\n\r\n12 out of 17 people were trying to lose weight.\r\n6 out of 10 ate the fries \r\n4 out 10 were late to a lobbying session in Congress\r\n----------------------------------------------------------------\r\nactual figures may vary, and opinion is just that. \r\nwe used the blue green methodology based in total crap.\r\nwe couldn't pass a statistic class, but hey. "want some F-REE-DOM F-R-I-E-S?\r\nback to you Sal Cornlose","author":"4th Edition","parent_id":35520,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-03-15 01:10:57","modified":"2013-11-10 23:49:03","fileurl":""},{"id":35657,"heading":"Improve it elsewhere please","article":"skinner for the last time stop trying with the html, you clearly do not have the intellect to handle what is quite possibly the easist 'language' ever made. Hell man that shit isn't even barely 'code' and you're fucking it all up.\r\n
\r\n\r\nLets see if we can close your font tags\r\n
\r\n\r\n<\/font><\/font><\/font>\r\n\r\nI can just see you sitting there going 'but it looked fine in frontpage'... halfwit put 'HTML for Idiot Nazis' down.\r\n
\r\n\r\nFor that matter, what the fuck are you doing quoting Fox here. Fox doesn't give a rats ass about the truth and everyone here knows it.
\r\n","author":"POIO","parent_id":35520,"mime_type":"text\/html","created":"2003-03-15 01:13:54","modified":"2003-03-15 01:13:54","fileurl":""},{"id":35659,"heading":"yes....","article":"yeah.... on second thought, Skinner, i agree with POIO: don't bother improving it.\r\n\r\n","author":"UI","parent_id":35520,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-03-15 01:17:55","modified":"2003-03-15 01:17:55","fileurl":""},{"id":35668,"heading":"Authentic?","article":"POIO.<\/font><\/h1>\r\n\r\nthis is indymedia, got anything authentic?<\/strong><\/I> Shit, I sure in hell wouldn\u2019t come to this rag for Authentic News. I drop in to see what stupid logic you guys are playing with today, purely as Entertainment!\r\n<\/p>\r\n","author":"Skinner","parent_id":35520,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-03-15 01:33:04","modified":"2013-11-10 23:49:03","fileurl":""},{"id":35670,"heading":"HAHAHAHAHAHA","article":"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA - - good grief - how clumsy can you get?","author":"hahahahahaha","parent_id":35520,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-03-15 01:35:26","modified":"2003-03-15 01:35:26","fileurl":""},{"id":35674,"heading":"Dear lord","article":"Stupidity runs deep in the boy who can\u2019t do html.\r\n\r\nAuthentic? Could this be a form of black comedy? Nah., silly rabbit tricks are for kids. \r\n\r\nObviously, your a little too linear to make the connections. Just keep being yourself, eventually you\u2019ll come to some point when your brain will function. If it wasn't for the fact that it hurts my eyes, your "html" is almost a form of entertainment. \r\n\r\nSee how I didn\u2019t capitalize entertainment? Case tense, heard of it?","author":"4th Edition","parent_id":35520,"mime_type":"text\/plain","created":"2003-03-15 01:48:45","modified":"2013-11-10 23:49:03","fileurl":""},{"id":35675,"heading":"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA","article":"HAHAHA\r\n\r\n"
POIO.<\/font><\/h1> \r\n\r\nthis is indymedia, got anything authentic?<\/strong><\/I> Shit, I sure in hell wouldn\u2019t come to this rag for Authentic News. I drop in to see what stupid logic you guys are playing with today, purely as Entertainment! \r\n<\/p> \r\n\r\n","author":"Guest","parent_id":35520,"mime_type":"text\/html","created":"2003-03-15 02:33:01","modified":"2013-11-10 23:49:03","fileurl":""}]}