The Future Of Iraq by Noam Chomsky

[Itsthetruth]

CounterPunch
February 2, 2005

After the Election
The Future of Iraq and the US Occupation
By NOAM CHOMSKY

Let's just imagine what the policies might be of an independent Iraq, independent, sovereign Iraq, let's say more or less democratic, what are the policies likely to be?

Well there's going to be a Shiite majority, so they'll have some significant influence over policy. The first thing they'll do is reestablish relations with Iran. Now they don't particularly like Iran, but they don't want to go to war with them so they'll move toward what was happening already even under Saddam, that is, restoring some sort of friendly relations with Iran.

That's the last thing the United States wants. It has worked very hard to try to isolate Iran. The next thing that might happen is that a Shiite-controlled, more or less democratic Iraq might stir up feelings in the Shiite areas of Saudi Arabia, which happen to be right nearby and which happen to be where all the oil is. So you might find what in Washington must be the ultimate nightmare­ Shiite region which controls most of the world's oil and is independent. Furthermore, it is very likely that an independent, sovereign Iraq would try to take its natural place as a leading state in the Arab world, maybe the leading state. And you know that's something that goes back to biblical times.

What does that mean? Well it means rearming, first of all. They have to confront the regional enemy. Now the regional enemy, overpowering enemy, is Israel. They're going to have to rearm to confront Israel­which means probably developing weapons of mass destruction, just as a deterrent. So here's the picture of what they must be dreaming about in Washington ­and probably 10 Downing street in London­ that here you might get a substantial Shiite majority rearming, developing weapons of mass destruction, to try to get rid of the U.S. outposts that are there to try to make sure that the U.S. controls most of the oil reserves of the world. Is Washington going to sit there and allow that? That's kind of next to inconceivable.

http://www.counterpunch.org/chomsky02022005.html

[whistle]

1. Chomsky is right on target with his analysis and I'll bet the....

...Bush administration is livid with anything Noam Chomsky says or writes about them and their policies.

[whistle]

2. This last paragraph of Chomsky's brings out the real truth...

...about modern warfare and using American troops in endless battle stress situations:

"In fact you could see it happening in Vietnam. To its credit, the U.S. army fell apart. It took too long, but finally the army essentially fell apart. Soldiers were on drugs, they were fragging officers, not following orders, and so on and the top brass wanted them out. If you look back at the military journals in the late Sixties, they were writing about how we gotta get this army out of here or the army's going to collapse­much like the head of the Army reserves said two or three days ago. He said this is becoming a broken force."

The real cost of war and of course the neo-thugs will turn their backs on these veterans coming home just like they did with Vietnam veterans. We have lost close to 1,500 Americans dead, but the severally wounded and disabled will be whole whole other statistic which these administration and the republican congress will totally ignore, easily 10,000 and possibly much higher. Couple that with post traumatic stress syndrome, severe depression, drug addition and mystery illnesses such as what is being caused by virtually all of the troops who have been stationed in the Iraq/Afghanistan war theater including exposure to toxic chemicals, biological agents, untested antidotes and depleted uranium weapons, we are going to witness the creme of our military reserves and fighting troops falling apart in massive numbers. God, what waste!

[Wind Dancer]

3. Many people dismiss Chomsky.

It's much easier to hide your head in the sand than face the truth regarding US policy. Nobody wants to believe the good ole USA would commit such atrocities. It reminds me of children covering their ears screaming "I don't want to hear it" over and over.

Many still want to believe Santa exists, like a child, we are saddened to find out Santa isn't a real man delivering toys to every child on Christmas Eve.

Great article, Chomsky has such profound insight into the Iraq situation. I look forward to his next article.

[CindyDale]

4. Strange to see this post

It's almost exactly what I was thinking last night right down to the part about Santa.

[Wind Dancer]

5. LOL!

It's encouraging to know others feel the same way. I feel like I live in the Twilight Zone most of time.

[Tace]

6. Kick

Chomsky rules!