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DIG DIRECTOR
Scott Ritter, a former Marine intelligence officer, served as a chief weapons inspector for the United Nations in Iraq from 1991 to 1998. He is the author, most recently, of "Target Iran: The Truth About the White House's Plans for Regime Change" (Nation Books).
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Scott Ritter: Calling Out Idiot AmericaA Dig led by Scott RitterThe ongoing hand-wringing in Congress by the newly empowered Democrats over what to do about the war in Iraq speaks volumes about the level of concern (or lack thereof) these “representatives of the people” have toward the men and women who honor us all by serving in the armed forces of the United States of America. The inability to reach consensus concerning the level of funding required or how to exercise effective oversight of the war, both constitutionally mandated responsibilities, is more a reflection of congressional cowardice and impotence than a byproduct of any heartfelt introspection over troop welfare and national security. The issues that prompt the congressional collective to behave in such an egregious manner have more to do with a reflexive tendency to avoid any controversy that might disrupt the status quo ante regarding representative-constituent relations (i.e., re-election) than with any intellectual debate about doing the right thing. This sickening trend is bipartisan in nature, but of particular shame to the Democrats, who obtained their majority from an electorate that expressed dissatisfaction with the progress of the war in Iraq through their votes, demanding that something be done. Sadly, Congress’ smoke-and-mirrors approach to the Iraq war creates the impression of much activity while generating no result. Even more sadly, the majority of Americans are falling for the act, either by continuing their past trend of political disengagement or by thinking that the gesticulation and pontification taking place in Washington, D.C., actually translate into useful work. The fact is, most Americans are ill-placed intellectually, either through genuine ignorance, a lack of curiosity or a combination of both, to judge for themselves the efficacy of congressional behavior when it comes to Iraq. Congress claims to be searching for a solution to Iraq, and many Americans simply accept that this is this case. The fact is one cannot begin to search for a solution to a problem that has yet to be accurately defined. We speak of “surges,” “stability” and “funding” as if these terms come close to addressing the real problems faced in Iraq. There is widespread recognition among members of Congress and the American people that there is civil unrest in Iraq today, with Iraqi-on-Iraqi violence tearing that country apart, but the depth of analysis rarely goes beyond that obvious statement of fact. Americans might be able to nod their heads knowingly if one utters the words Sunni, Shiite and Kurd, but very few could take the conversation much further down the path of genuine comprehension regarding the interrelationships among these three groups. And yet we, the people, are expected to be able to hold to account those whom we elected to represent us in higher office, those making the decisions regarding the war in Iraq. How can the ignorant accomplish this task? And ignorance is not something uniquely attached to the American public. Rep. Silvestre Reyes, the newly appointed chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, infamously failed a pop quiz in which journalist Jeff Stein asked him to differentiate between Sunni and Shiite. Reyes has become the poster boy for congressional stupidity, but in truth he is not alone. Very few of his colleagues could pass the test, truth be told. The task of holding Congress to account is a daunting one, and can be accomplished only if the citizenry that forms the respective constituencies of our ignorant congressional representatives are themselves able to operate at an intellectual capacity above that of those they are holding to account. So rather than issue “pop quizzes” to our elected representatives, I’ve designed one for us, the people. If the reader can fully answer the question raised, then he or she qualifies as one capable of pointing an accusatory finger at Congress as its members dither over what to do in Iraq. If the reader fails the quiz, then there should be an honest appraisal of the reality that we are in way over our heads regarding this war, and that it is irresponsible for anyone to make sweeping judgments about the ramifications of policy courses of action yet to be agreed upon. Claiming to be able to divine a solution to a problem improperly defined is not only ignorant but dangerously delusional. So here is the quiz: Explain the relationship between the Iraqi cities of Karbala and Baghdad as they impact the coexistence of Iraq’s Shiite and Sunni populations. Dig last updated on Mar. 23, 2007Advertisement
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By Guido, October 3, 2007 at 3:13 am # Mr. Ritter makes an excellent point on which I would like to expand. Beyond the religious cross currents traversing the Arabian peninsula, there are even more important social customs and traditions that add to the difficulty of establishing a Western style democracy in the Middle East. Amongst the countless customs that preclude democracy, the lack of definition of the individual is the most fundamental. In Arab society the individual is not recognized if not within the context of his extended family. This simple fact, denies one of the pillars unto which democracy is based. Guido
By John Borowski, October 2, 2007 at 4:26 am # We are in a bad situation (The British call it sticky) in Iraq. With billions of dollars spent on the war in Iraq we have nothing to show for it except boxes brought back to Delaware. The Republicans (Aka Conservative right-wingers) have put us into a proverbial “roach-motel”. Once we get in there we can’t get out. We stay and spend billions for little gain (Except for the robber baron crowd) and more dead soldiers. We leave Iraq and it will only encourage still more small countries to challenge us.
By Conservative Yankee, September 26, 2007 at 2:04 pm # 102775 by CrossHair on 9/26 at 12:40 pm “Wake up. REALLY WAKE UP. And think...without jumping to conclusions that even Scott is not infallible from.” I’m awake. I disagree Great sentence structure.
By CrossHair, September 26, 2007 at 12:40 pm # Quick points. 1. I thank Scott Ritter for the concise history which was covered. I’ll be sure and verify results independantly to weed out personal flavors. 2. I do not conclude from the history rundown that American Soldiers in the region are to blame for escalation, only an opportunity by the Wahhabi’s to influence people who are not in their right mind anyways. The US is not going around setting off bombs. The Wahhabi’s and likely Iran are both funding and providing supplies (including bodies) in hopes of conquest over Iraq for both its religious significance as well as its oil. 3. This is about Power. The US seeks to reshape the power structure in the region. Iran wishes to instill its religious and political power there, Saudi Arabia wishes to instill its religious and political power there. The original split of Islam was over POWER over the PEOPLE. ISLAM has a total of 3 Power Basis all competing for control of the faithful - not unlike Catholics and Protestants fighting in Ireland. 4. People United Stand, Divided they fall: Its amazing to hear the fear spewed by people who want to see America Punished and believe we are to blame for centuries of Bloody, Violent Warfare in that Region long before USA was ever created. How about this folks. How about wishing for the “PEOPLE” to unite and overthrow their religious dictators!. Sunni and Shia families are kind, caring and loving families that relate to each other at the personal family levels. It is the Powers over those faiths that are at war. Finally, Oh Sh*t....did you ever consider how powerful AMERICA is when it stands together??? Instead of bickering in the streets, in Congress or on website forums? Lol. You guys crack me up. So look. I appreciate Scott putting this out so that a more informed discussion can take place. And I also agree that we need to define the problem. However, to define a problem...you have to first have to define what your goal is first. If I want to grow oranges and conclude the ground is not furtile because I planted grapes instead of oranges. Based on the possible or likely Power change that the Bush administration is attempting to establish and solidify, what then are the problems that block it from occurring NOW. Simply pointing to History and saying that we don’t understand and should pull the troops out....is a choice action. What you should be equally asking yourself is this. If pulling the troops out is a means of correcting a “Problem” based on ignorace of history...what is the end result and goal that you think will take place at this time by their prompt removal? Are you going to rationalize the waves of Iranian Shias or Wahhabi’s who would come into Iraq and kill all in their path? Remember folks, they have already sworn to kill the unfaithful..what we are doing in part is to prevent that. Absence from the scene only continues the play. We send American troops to Bosnia and other parts of the world to stop or prevent genocide, do you think so little of the Middle East that you would not see the same happening there, has already happened under Saddam Hussein and consider your hands clean. Wake up. REALLY WAKE UP. And think...without jumping to conclusions that even Scott is not infallible from.
By Pastor Ted, September 22, 2007 at 12:25 pm # Look on the face of the Arbusto regime, and, if you don’t turn into a Moonie, remember it well. Because this is what we’re up against, in America: an evil that is almost demonic in its pure malevolence, a dark destructive spirit that feeds on pain and is animated by the will to crush its enemies underfoot. This is the face of an enemy that _must_ be defeated.
By Anne, September 20, 2007 at 12:43 pm # It apparrent that those that wrote Project for A New American Century, the Bush administration and even the corporations involved in the Iraq fiasco never bothered to delve into the history of middle east as Scott Ritter has done. It is also obvious that had they done so, we wouldn’t be in the middle of this mess with so much death. Now I wonder how many Americans will bother with it either and still say we should ‘stay the course’. It would be nice if just one major news network would cover it as well as Scott did , since the only way the majority of Americans would ever hear of it would be to have it presented ‘intertainingly’ on t.v. “Know thy enemy” once used to be one of the major standards for being sucessful in going to war. It seems that the advance of war technology using impersonal bombs and missles has erased the mental ability to begin to know what one is getting into, much less to comprehend their enemy.
By Lisa, September 18, 2007 at 8:38 am # Good Grief folks stop complaing and DO something! We as Americans do have POWER we put these idiots in office so start speaking UP! And STOP complaining and doing NOTHING!
By Conservative Yankee, September 16, 2007 at 12:38 pm # 100742 by hippy pam on 9/16 at 11:43 am “HEY-I SEE THERE ARE ANTI-WAR PROTESTERS...WHEN THE P.T.Bs. NEEDED TO GET OUT OF VIET-NAM....THEY GOT PEOPLE TO PROTEST...NOW THE BUSH*T BUNCH CAN “PULL OUT DUE TO THE UNPOPULARITY” AND “SAVE FACE”..NOT MUCH DIFFERENT THAN NAM..” Somebody, anybody, saved face during Vietnam? When, who, and how?
By MizBurns, September 16, 2007 at 12:17 pm # Everybody’s beating a dead horse. What is left to be said about our having gotten into and the prospects for getting out of Iraq? Short of a bloody revolution, the status quo will prevail, ad infinitum. And Americans will never revolt. The country is too vast, too varied, too comfortable, and it would be impossible to unite a sufficient numbr of people to a single cause. Sorry to be pessimistic, but when we have a Congress reluctant to impeach a team of traitors and criminals, there is no viable remedy. All the jawboning in the world is not going to solve anything, and unless demonstrations succeed in shutting down D.C., they will remain ineffective. Sorry. That’s just the way it is.
By 1drees, September 14, 2007 at 9:10 pm # INtresting to note that the “RED WHITE & BLUE FLU” on sept 11 2007 went by so snmooth that nobody even noticed it. GOOD going USA now we are certain that some desperately needed changes are certainhly never goign to come, which convinces me that teh people who call the American people as “Sheeple” are very right.
By Conservative Yankee, September 13, 2007 at 4:18 am # 100138 by hippy pam on 9/13 at 3:37 am “WHEN THE SHIITES AND THE SUNNIS FIGURE OUT THAT “UNITED THEY STAND-DIVIDED THEY FALL”.....IF THEY EVER STAND TOGETHER...” As likely as Joan Blades and Wes Boyd’s Move-on and Pat Robinson’s rabid right joining hands and singing “We shall overcome” There are some splits that are just not joinable. Genocide from both sides against the other contribute to the annomosity, but it goes far deeper, and the story reads like the bible.
By Anthony, September 11, 2007 at 12:10 am # Most people are knowledgable. Its just they aren’t knowledgable about politics, religions they aren’t apart of, economics, and etc. Everyone is knowledgable; it just isn’t the knowledge you think they should have. The Iraq civil war in a nut shell. Shites are 65-70% of the population, and with a commanding majority, everyone in the minority, sunnis/kurds, feels they are getting the shaft, which they are. They also have no hope of ever governing their country, because of the population imbalance and a two party system. The shites and sunnis can’t compromise, because their religions don’t allow it. So they kill each other, because of the power struggle. With the US defending the shite government, sunnis can only rebel, by using IEDs. The only way for a compromise to happen is the shite government and sunni minority get sick of killing each other and compromise which may never happen, or the shites or sunnis genocide the other. The best compromise is to have the nation split oil revenue and all assets of the nation by population percentage. Let the sunnis govern themselves.
By Mia, September 8, 2007 at 10:34 pm # Well, I guess I shouldn’t comment on this site, then. I’m too ignorant. Puhleeze. Why do I need to know all this stuff about the Middle East? Is there a new Trivial Pursuit Game out? When I go out and get my federally mandated Real ID, am I going to be quizzed on this? Is this website a front for the federal surveillance program? No, I’m not gay. I have sex at least 3 times a month. I haven’t read any porn lately. What other meaningless stuff do you want to know about me that supposedly will improve our nation’s security? It’s 2:05 in the morning. I’m waiting for my caffeine to wear off. I picked your website by random. I was actually researching Michael Moore’s Sicko. People are suffering here in the U.S. If the government was capable of providing a smidgen of leadership in cleaning up Louisiana, I would be convinced that we should stay in Iraq. And with a more competent administration.
By nappyblack, September 5, 2007 at 12:54 pm # Dear Conservative Yankee: THANK YOU DEARLY, SIR!!! You have reminded me and the rest of these writers - many of them in their own right too ignorant to have made a cursory investigation of a more whole truth - and Scott Ritter of America’s Untold [Slave] Labor Story and history of incidents where business owners have used any cheap labor they can get (and not insure) to harvest crops, mine coal, and sew garments! I will reserve further comment on Mr. Ritter’s story later.
By Conservative Yankee, September 4, 2007 at 5:47 am # 97941 by Harold J macek on 8/31 at 11:12 am “For fifty years no one complained about illegal scab labor.” What fifty years was that? In the Seventies Caesar Chavez complained bitterly about the illegal labor from the south being used to break his UFW.In the 40’s and 50’s the KKK marched here in Maine to prevent illegal French Canadians from taking lumbering jobs. In the 1930’s The UAW complained about Ford’s propensity to import labor from Cuba and the DR to break strikes. In the 20’s restaurant workers in California found their wages being trimmed because illegal Mexicans worked for less money. Before the teens, there were no restrictions on foreign labor.
By Renfro, September 3, 2007 at 7:57 pm # This physics student knows with absolute certainty that Idiot Ritter is running off at the mouth as if he believes that “jet fuel” [sic] and gravity could have caused the WTC to disintegrate as it free-fell downward, which is absurd, ludicrous, ridiculous, and impossible.
By Harold J macek, August 31, 2007 at 11:12 am # For fifty years no one complained about illegal scab labor..until---our politicians in their quest for votes decided to award them our social security..This after many hospitals had to close there E,R. rooms because of illegal scab laborers who could not pay thier bills..illegals are just scab labor..no more, no less..The companys who use them are depending on the taxpayers of this country to support its workers..with welfare, and health insurance..paid for by the legal taxpayers of this country..immigants from European nations not only pay thier way, they learn english..
By Debra, August 31, 2007 at 7:10 am # Scott Ritter seems to say that if Americans are to express any opinion at all on the current debacle in Iraq, they must first demonstrate a level of knowledge about the varied strains of Islam far beyond that of many well-educated Muslims. (I was educated in Catholic schools from first to twelfth grade--ask me about Albigensianism and get a sputter.)
By June, August 25, 2007 at 9:46 am # A recent news article revealed that the US is now arming the Sunnis big time. You would think that the way to end the civil conflict in Iraq would be to DISarm everybody, wouldn’t you? But that would make too much sense and also deprive our monstrous weapons industry of some potential sales, ergo profit. Let’s face it: we’re in the business of promoting war anywhere we can to shore up our economy. Turning swords into plowshares is not part of the religious (read political) agenda in this country.
By eczinege, August 17, 2007 at 8:48 am # Scott Ritter was accused by the Bush adm./Rowe/of accepting 200K dollars form Saddam Hussein in order to claim that he deas not have WMD.
By Aaron, August 16, 2007 at 9:32 pm # I love how most of you like to blame everything on President Bush. What makes you the experts on him? Do you honestly think that all of what you read on this pathetic website actually is truthful and honest. It is so one-sided. Let me guess some of you think Pres. Bush, knew about 9/11, or he is such a little hitler? To those of you who believe those things you are just out there to have the man and blame all the problems on him. Remember, as of right know the dems in congress have even a lower approval rating than the president. Yeah, the good ole’ dems who by the way, mostly voted for the war, must be little hitlers and terrorists too!
By 1drees, August 16, 2007 at 4:43 pm # USA is far far away from being a perfect land for its people BUT that is not the problem that the people of the world worry about, the problem is that USA keeps attacking & destroying other people for no evident reason or logic. AND soon unfortunately Americans might be subject to a martial law like condition or maybe they already are ( me hates martial law and shits like that so i sympathise with the people) Just a brief comparison with “the pathetic 3rd world couuntry of Pakistan” Bush declares himself the “decider” and says he replies to no one nobody was able to dare to question him. Musharraf pulls the same george bush move in pakistan and the Supreme Court issued him a notice that since he is human afterall therefore he will respond to queries as and when they arise and as needed by the Supreme Court. THEN Bush fired 8 judges and US courts threw out their appeal to be reinstated. Musharraf tried to fire one judge and the Supreme Court restored him. So much for your brand of Democracy being the most superior in the world, you dimwits need to wake the hell up and see yourself as you goyims actually are. not so free and not so powerful as citizens BUT with surely a tremendously dangerous armed forces that keep killing any people that the Zionist want killed for their monetary benefits. My fav political song of this age, American Idiot by Greenday baske yourself in the sounds of the American idiots beat
By againstneocons, August 14, 2007 at 1:06 pm # http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lK_QshS2EW8 By Alexander Cockburn and Jeffrey St. Clair What moved those kamikaze Muslims to embark, some many months ago on the training that they knew would culminate in their deaths as well of those (they must have hoped) of thousands upon thousands of innocent people? Was it the Koran plus a tape from Osama bin Laden? The dream of a world in which all men wear untrimmed beards and women have to stay at home or go outside only when enveloped in blue tents? I doubt it. If I had to cite what steeled their resolve the list would surely include the exchange on CBS in 1996 between [Bill Clinton’s (Zionist) Secretary of State] Madeleine Albright and then US ambassador to the United Nations and Lesley Stahl. Albright was maintaining that sanctions had yielded important concessions from Saddam Hussein. Stahl: “We have heard that half a million children have died. I mean, that’s more children than died in Hiroshima. And you know, is the price worth it?” Albright: “I think this is a very hard choice, but the price we think the price is worth it.” They read that exchange in the Middle East. It was infamous all over the Arab world. I’ll bet the September 11 kamikazes knew it well enough, just as they could tell you the crimes wrought against the Palestinians. So would it be unfair today to take Madeleine Albright down to the ruins of the Trade Towers, remind her of that exchange, and point out that the price turned out also to include that awful mortuary. Was that price worth it too, Mrs. Albright? Well, the typists and messenger boys and back-office staffs throughout the Trade Center didn’t know that history. There’s a lot of other relevant history they probably didn’t know but which those men on the attack planes did. How could those people in the Towers have known, when US political and journalistic culture is a conspiracy to perpetuate their ignorance? Those people on the Towers were innocent portions of the price that Albright insisted, in just one of its applications, as being worth it. It would honor their memory to insist that in future our press offers a better accounting of how America’s wars for Freedom are fought and what the actual price might include. SOURCE : http://www.counterpunch.com
By Skruff, August 12, 2007 at 5:49 am # “gavel was slammed before all the votes were tallied” No, the tally board (done with lites nexxt to names) clearly showed 215-213 to kill the measure. an illegal “reconsideration” allows time for exactly the bought&paid;-for representation you have bemoaned in other posts. How much is a “face saving” vote worth here? AND in case you haven’t been watching the Democratic leadership (In League with Bush and McCain) have been attempting to shove this amnestey and attached perks for illegals legislation down the throats of citizens despite a 70% majority favoring expulsion. The argument of the pro “let-em-all-in” crowd has been “they’re good for the economy because they are doing jobs US citizens will not do” If they are here to work, why do they need welfare? Food stamps?
By Claude, August 11, 2007 at 5:52 pm # Lets start by saying citizens of the USofA are as good as the citizens of any other country on the face of the planet. Lets finish by saying that the more I know and hear about this George Bush guy the more I remember Adolf Hitler and the second world war and yes, I’m old enough to remember those days.
By Recon, August 11, 2007 at 12:43 pm # Michael Shaw: Thanks for taking the time to respond. I’ll read it, digest it and discuss it with my friends. I already e-mailed it to them. I don’t know why, but I like Ritter. As a former Marine, I like Marines who step outside the stereotype, ala Smedley Butler. Thanks again.
By Skruff, August 11, 2007 at 5:09 am # 93788 by Michael Shaw on 8/10 at 4:09 pm “They could have done the re-vote.” But that’s not how the “rules” read. when the gavel hits the podium the board vote is final. You are correct however in your assessment that “The Republicans did it when they were in power” Unfortunately I thought the 2006 vote was for a change… my bad. Funny, “liberals” who hate the lable “liberal” and blame conservatives for the word’s overuse have now taken the same position (mirror-image) on the use of “neo-con”
By Skruff, August 10, 2007 at 12:02 pm # 93733 by Michael Shaw on 8/10 at 10:41 am Guess it’s just one of those things that will remain an “urban legend to all but those who actually saw the vote tally board when the gavel hit the podium. The Democrats are NOT umpires, and the rules clearly state that the vote at the gavel is the actual vote, not a time for the party of jefferson to walk around the room twisting arms, offering favors, and in general subverting any form of legality left in Washington. I don’t have to convince any one of what I observed on C-Span, AND in this case the D’s were wrong. ALSO what kind of half-assed politician gives benefits of citizenship to criminal interlopers?
By Rick, August 9, 2007 at 9:14 pm # I don’t believe in a god....have no country and consider mankind’s presence on this earth an abherration ....all that said ...i have to add that considering the educational resources available to the average person living in this country ......you all are a pretty moronic lot.....yep..i live in america!...ha ha...isn’t that a continent?...don’t them mexicans speak mexican....i just love it...one day ...the true heirs to the world will take over...no god...no heaven...no hell....just the roaches...and sanity will once again be the status quo
By Recon, August 9, 2007 at 4:41 pm # I guess I’m looking for some ammo in these discussions with my friends. They are saying Ritter said there were WMDs when he was in country and should have known; then said there were none after he had left the country and was no longer in the loop. The implication being that, if he knew there were none when he was there, he should have said as much. My best response to date has been that he must have just been acting like a prosecutor and that’s his job. They respond, that isn’t good enough considering the gravity of the situation. He should have spilled the beans. I suppose timing is an issue here. About when did Ritter say no WMDs and what was his position at the time? Thanks for your reponse. Add Your Comment |
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