Memo to Sen. Obama on Iraq

20 thoughts on “Memo to Sen. Obama on Iraq”

1. H,
   Have you actually sent this memo to Senator Obama? If so, has he replied? If President Obama replies, will you in fact post his comments?

2. In Iraq the enemies of the US are Iraqi citizens, just ordinary Iraqis, as GW Bush said at Annapolis in 2005. “The enemy in Iraq is a combination of rejectionists, Saddamists and terrorists. The rejectionists are by far the largest group. These are ordinary Iraqis, mostly Sunni Arabs, who miss the privileged status they had under the regime of Saddam Hussein — and they reject an Iraq in which they are no longer the dominant group.”
   http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/11/20051130-2.html
   Bush didn’t know about the Sadrist nationalists, also ordinary Iraqis.
   Generally speaking, as Zebari illustrates, the “enemy” of every government is its citizens.
   “A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.”–Edward Abbey

3. “who miss the privileged status they had under the regime of Saddam Hussein — and they reject an Iraq in which they are no longer the dominant group.”
   What complete rubbish! And how dismaying that so many supposedly knowledgeable – and quite influential – people actually believe this rot!

4. In Iraq the enemies of the US are Iraqi citizens,
   This very very wrong misleading statement.
   When was Iraqi enemy for US?
   Was Saddam enemy of US?
   Iraqis are on their land if they fight some one foreigners on their land they are defending their nation and their land so the enemy NOT the Iraqis the enemy who came to Iraq who planed for long stay, who planed for the distractions of Iraqi state, who planed to bring more than 100,000 mercenaries who re most dangerous killers from around the world bring them to slaughter Iraqis on their land, who recruiting and inventing Death Squads, who bring AL-Qaeda to Iraq.
   This is the enemy by definition of his works and behaviors on Iraqi land.
   No wonders the comment written by a person well none from Iraq’s neighbor that helped US to invaded Afghanistan and Iraq as Non-Islamic Revolution Leader, Non-Ayatollah Non-Sayyed said publicly in one of Friday sermon.
   Its better off telling us what your Non-Islamic government did and doing in Iraq not Bush what he is doing because we all knew what BUSH have in his mind and why he went and invade Iraq.
   Just to remind you with Al-Biet words here by Imam Ali (كرم الله وجهه) during one on his fighting with al-khawarij, Imam Ali asked a group of people stand neither with him nor with those Imam Ali attending to fight, Imam Ali said to them these men with me (about his supporters) those men my enemy who are you with then?
   So tell us now who are you with?
   With Al-“WhiteHouse” Beit, isn’t

5. If you interested of above commentator’s “complete rubbish!” read this Some Call It ‘Counterinsurgency’

6. Tell us, Salah, who are the enemies of the US in Iraq, if not Iraqi citizens. And tell me why my article was “complete rubbish.” I mean, rubbish is bad but complete rubbish has no value whatsoever. Was it that bad? Why?

7. Tell us, Salah, who are the enemies of the US in Iraq,
   When your country invaded by US, your family threaten or some your family killed, tortured, you live for five years with no basic services water electricity, when the heat is 50C in summer, when your country resources looted by criminals, when the invaders bring bench of corrupted terrorists proxy not loyal to your nation thieving your country money, when your kids can not go to school, when your sister and wife can not walk on the street because those Mullah who brought with the invader and supported protected killing women due to their dress.
   All those above and more here will give you the full answers to who is the enemy?.

8. Dr. Tarantula on BHO and the Beauties of Aggression
   “Could it be that Obama is planning to pivot? That is, what if he goes to Iraq and declares upon his return that he has been persuaded that the surge has made a difference, that things are going much better, and that he is now convinced victory is both possible and crucial? On the downside, he would risk alienating those among his supporters who crave defeat in Iraq, either for ideological reasons or out of sheer hatred for George W. Bush. But on the upside, it would show political courage and open-mindedness, two qualities his supporters are eager to ascribe to him but so far on the basis of evidence that is somewhere between scant and nonexistent. Those who do want America to win in Iraq would no longer have to vote against Obama for that reason. As for those who want defeat, where would they go? By their lights, John McCain is even worse; he voted for the war to begin with. So, oddly enough, did the Libertarian nominee. Unless you count Cynthia McKinney or Ralph Nader, Obama would still be the best “antiwar” candidate on the ballot.
   “We’ve long been skeptical of the Obama hype, but if he is smart and bold enough to adopt a sensible position on Iraq, we will have to admit there is more to him that we’ve given him credit for.”
   —
   A good day for gloom: the Washington Post Company offers up a trinity or trifecta in support of Responsible Nonwithdrawal: the ineffable Ignatius , Mr. David Broder and finally Prof. Dr. Vali Nasr , who does actually know a little bit about the semiconquered provinces of AEI-GOP-DOD, but subordinates it to anti-Qommie notions.
   Happy days.

9. “These are ordinary Iraqis, mostly Sunni Arabs, who miss the privileged status they had under the regime of Saddam Hussein — and they reject an Iraq in which they are no longer the dominant group.”
   Mr Bacon,
   As one of the very few journalists who actually did on the ground reporting on this issue, might I suggest you get hold of our film, Meeting Resistance.
   The realities in Iraq in 2003 were that no group, except the Tikriti clan of SH himself enjoyed any particularly privileged status. Indeed, a closer look at the social and political hierarchy shows that only a very few of the Sunni sect would not have somebody of another sect, religion or ethnic group above them on the ladder of power.
   Many look to refute that by pointing to the grinding poverty of Sadr city and believing “the Shi’a” to be a downtrodden underclass (as reported by the elite exiles who wanted an American army to catapult them to power) but that would be to ignore the reality that Sadr City grew out of a migration from the countryside. This has happened in many countries, most notably Turkey where the expansion of the suburbs of Istanbul has resulted in similar slum districts teeming with poverty and a sense of disenfranchisement.
   Steve

10. Hey, guys, I don’t write Bush’s material. I quoted him, and will do so at every opportunity, because he stated that the enemies of the US military in Iraq are “ordinary Iraqis.” It’s essential for people to understand that US enemies in occupied countries aren’t some sort of despicable monsters. They aren’t “insurgents,” or “terrorists,” or “al Qaeda,” as they are usually referred to by Bush and others, but (again) just ordinary people doing what you or I might do under similar circumstances, reacting to a brutal attack and occupation.
    In other words I believe that Bush got off-message in this instance and mistakenly, uncharacteristically, told the truth, and I intend to make the most of it.
    Of course it’s self-contradictory to state that someone is both “ordinary” and “privileged” but I only refer to the former.
    PS: I’m still awaiting Salah’s rubbish talk.

11. Mr Bacon,
    You’re absolutely right, I thought the quote ended sooner than it did and now realize my mistake. I hope you will accept my apologies for wrongly ascribing the Sunni privilege part of the quote to you.
    Best wishes
    Steve

12. Iraq can be too complex for an outsider to grapple with (nevertheless, I try to read all sides; including those I disagree with). I found this very interesting. It is a Stephen Biddle, Vali R. Nasr & William L. Nash transcript from the Council on Foreign Relations. I think it well worth a read (especially by Obama).

13. Steve,
    Thank you so much for your very accurate reply to the Bush nonsense that Don quoted. So much more useful than my dismissive but uninformative “utter rubbish!”.

14. D. Mathews
    Vali R. Nasr
    Aha…
    Friend DM,
    Nir Rosen, Fouad Ajami, and others sorry to inform you these people speaking from their Parisian tongue all the time. Therefore, t parsing those Parisian Proxy sitting in green Zone, that’s why your smart thinkers love them and that why your troops lost Iraqi’s war of hearts, minds of, and Arab in total.
    DM, did you see the shameful photos for Maliki when he visits Iran recently? Any one can believe this guy PM of a sovereign country? Or a slave to the head criminal gang Ali Khamenei?
    Did
    Steve
    thank for your words, but just give some incidents and real umbers support that Iraqis society was (and I believe still) mosaic structured.
    First Ba’ath Party:
    – 70% of Ba’ath party were Shiites, let just clarify, some saying they do it for jobs this not entirely true. the evidence these guys in Da’awa Party now some in power finished their Medical Study which in Iraq free although they are Shiites (This one) they worked in the sector for some years till lunatic Khomeini came and start move these idiot inside Iraq they flee fro the fist of dictatorship which all Iraqi under apart of his very close tribe (not all Tikriti have that).
    – There were many Shiites were ministries and high ranking official who had “privileged” let just bring to Mohammad Saeed Sahaf (Former Iraqi Information Minster till the invasion)
    – All Iraqi had “privileged” going to schools in all levels and universities free of charge how matter from or their believe “religion” (it might good to remember those early Iraqi/Jews who left Iraq after 1948 how they benefits Zionist project by their high skills and education moreover those Iraqi/Jews who left during 1960-1970 same scenario just to give you examples).
    In fact, whoever comes from southern or northern student to study in the capital or in Basra or Suylmanya uni. Had paid non-returned loans to help them to study.
    The differences start with the Iraq/Iran wartime the crazy dictatorship start shifting toward more violence against all Iraqis over al sectors. This thing came very clear he driven by his own fear that some one or some group will take the power due to his fallen down popularity starting. the fear from Islamic revolutions in Iran was not just Iraqi dictatorship own fear most those in the region come to him asking for protection which make him disastrous dictatorship ever and he lost his mind.
    Steve let me remind you with real incident and photos that were posted all around the world how Iraqi faced US remember these ones:
    – -Iraqi in Al-Anbar district they chose to surrender to US forces and the Iraq commander singed his surrender and his city and military forces.
    – Tikrit there was photos T72 Tanks looks new was in their places never been moved to battle as US forces took the city peacefully.
    These just showing you Iraqi were fed up with craziness of editorship time and they felt the liberation real this time not like in 1904 when General Mod stand in centre of Baghdad telling Iraqis they came to liberating them not invade them!! Looks history repeat itself over and over by those liars.
    Please Steve read this article by Iraqi solders during the war he telling the reflection of all Iraqi not just military people
    Don Bacon,
    First Shirin labelled your writing and I did echo her simply because most what you said far from the reality and truth about Iraq and Iraqis more over Bush.
    G.W. Bush not the only one he believe in what you said there are quite number of American support his view even now after five years and the misery US have in Iraq.
    This not due to bad calculation of dreams but its apart of colonel thinking.
    If you trying play with words its your term but lets be careful what we saying about real people in Iraq and that nation they had and they have very hard time start with that Zionist thinker Noah Freedman followed by Death Squad inventor and executer John Lynch Negroponty who is the high skilled man in his field and what happen after that is clear no question to be asked.
    Therefore, these facts should be in mind when trying reading Iraq and writing about Iraq.
    Simply telling Iraq society complex this and that its any nation here and their you find same, unless some put some poison between them and start fire which will come on all.
    I am not saying Iraqi angels and peaceful good guys, Iraqis as any society there bad and there are goods, but the rule of law is the major part here don’t forgot.
    Let dismantle you military and police in your country whet will happen just give it although, Katrina was an real example fro powerful country like US the looting shooting gangs run while when rule of law was limited not demented so what will then if rule of law dismantled in US?
    Finally Don Bacon may accept my apologies for wrongly reading your thoughts.

15. Steve, is your film available for purchase in DVD form? If so, where might I obtain a copy? I have been very much wanting to see it (and think it probably warrants viewing again and again), but did not have an opportunity to attend any of the local screenings.

16. that’s why your smart thinkers love them and that why your troops …
    On slight problem, Salah.
    They aren’t MY smart thinkers, nor MY troops!
    I said those authors were worth reading. I didn’t say why or that I agreed with them!

17. Salah said… that’s why your smart thinkers love them and that why your troops …
    One slight problem, Salah.
    They aren’t MY smart thinkers, nor MY troops!
    I said those authors were worth reading. I didn’t say why or that I agreed with them!

18. Shirin,
    Yes, the film is available on DVD at http://www.meetingresistance.com
    Salah,
    Thank you for putting some detail onto my brief note about the structure of Iraqi society though it seems – as you acknowledge – we were wrongly attributing GWB’s thoughts to Mr Bacon. Horror.
    But hey, at least the foundation and quality of discussion here is so much better than WaPo or the Grey Lady.
    Best
    Steve

19. D. Mathews I have problem with my nerves when its come to Iraq I just can’t stop and how people reacts to Iraq and Iraqis where the land I born not any land its Babylon!! I lived 40 years.
    Apologies D. Mathews I meant US Thinkers and US troops of course not yours in my horror mistake.
    This more about Nir Rosen read:
    The Education of Nir Rosen

    Back in junior high, Nir Rosen was a scrawny kid who could draw just about anything if you have him a pen and paper. He bought overpriced designer jeans and paid for them by installment.

    Nir never had much respect for authority and once got suspended for a having a haircut that was more cut than hair. Girls liked him. He left our school after 9th grade and I didn’t see him more than once or twice in the next seven years.

    At first Rosen thought that the Shia and Sunnis would unite to remove the Coalition forces out of Iraq, as he explained to David Adesnik in the summer of 2004. But after a couple years of covering Iraq, he began to see that some kind of civil war was in fact inevitable.

    In early 2006, he thought that the civil war had in fact begun right after the elections of 2005. By the late spring of 2006, however, he had revised the inception of the civil war to the day that Saddam’s statue had been pulled down in Firdus Square, April 9, 2003. “It started when U.S. troops arrived in Baghdad,” Rosen wrote for the Washington Post on May 28, 2006. “It began when Sunnis discovered what they had lost, and Shiites learned what they had gained. And the worst is yet to come.”

    Steve,
    In regards to ”pointing to the grinding poverty of Sadr city and believing “the Shi’a” to be a downtrodden underclass”
    You see Iraq and Sader City after three wars and 13 years of sanction that brought Iraq all to its knees.
    Did you asked people there what they feel about their city now and before?
    Just one thing important to mention here five years after 2003 oil prices jumped to US$130/B and simple calculation just last year Iraq almost got about $100.0 Billions from oil how much the Sader City got from that money from people in power for decade believing “the Shi’a” to be a downtrodden underclass”
    THE ROOTS OF CONFLICT BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND IRAQ
    Joseph Coates from chapter seven of Defeating Terrorism Developing Dreams: Beyond 9/11 and the IRAQ WAR
    Volume II: Trade Towers/War Clouds

    The long-term roots of conflict were not solely within Islam or directly religiously based. The Industrial Revolution never occurred in Islamic territories as it did in the West. Consequently, in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries the West grew tremendously in physical resources, skills, competence, military experience,

    military power, and wealth.In order to secure its new colonial
    empires, the West became more and more aggressive toward countries that affected its trade routes. They were often, incidentally, Islamic. To pacify or neutralize threats to its commerce, the West in many cases took countries or regions of countries under its control. The countries had forced upon them
    changes, concessions, laws, and rules to the advantage of the West and to the disadvantage and humiliation of Islamic people and countries.

    The conflicts between Iraq, the UN, and the United States have many banyan tree-like roots. First is the old hostility that exists within Islam between the Sunni and the Shiites-the former backing and dependent on the Hussein regime and the latter oppressed by the Hussein regime. Second is the consequence of the structure of Iraq and the failure to establish a Kurdish state at the end of WWI, giving Iraq a hostile, independence-seeking group. Third is the rise of oil as an important international resource, focusing theadvanced nations’ attention on the need for a guaranteed, stable supply of fuel.Fourth, the totalitarianism of the Hussein regime stifled any internal reform and drove the lucky few dissident leaders out of the country. Fifth, Saddam

    Don Bacon listen to Issam Chalabi, in this link,The Iraq Oil Equation spatially about Iraqis.

20. Listen to Issam Chalabi (and others) here about Iraqi Oil industry.

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