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 British Government Gives Iraq Story a Final SpinPosted on May 2, 2009
By Robert Fisk Editor’s note: This article was originally printed in The Independent. “We acknowledge,” the letter says, “that violence has claimed the lives of many thousands of Iraqi civilians over the last five years, either through terrorism or sectarian violence. Any loss of innocent lives is tragic and the Government is committed to ensuring that civilian casualties are avoided. Insurgents and terrorists are not, I regret to say, so scrupulous.” This quotation comes from the Ministry of Defence’s “Iraq Operations Team, Directorate of Operations” and is signed by someone whose initials may be “SM” or “SW” or even “SWe”. Unusually (but understandably), it does not carry a typed version of the author’s name. Its obvious anonymity—given the fact that not a single reference is made to the civilians slaughtered by the Anglo-American invasion and occupation of Iraq—is no surprise. I, too, would not want to be personally associated with such Blair-like mendacity. What is astonishing, however, is that this outrageous letter should have been written this year. I should say at once that I owe this revelatory text (actually dated 20 January) to a very un-anonymous Independent reader, Tom Geddes, who thought I would find its “economy with the truth” interesting. I certainly do. We are now, are we not, supposed to be in the age of Brown-like truth, as we finally haul down the flag in Basra, of near-certainty of an official inquiry into the whole Iraq catastrophe, a time of reckoning for the men who sent us off to war under false pretences. I suspect that this—like the Obama pretensions to change—is a falsehood. Well, we shall see. Mr Geddes, I hasten to add, is a retired librarian who worked for 21 years at the British Library as head of Germanic collections and is also a translator of Swedish—it turns out that we share the same love of the Finnish-Swedish poet Edith Sodergrund’s work—and he wrote to the Ministry of Defence at the age of 64 because, like me (aged 62), he was struck that John Hutton, the Secretary of State for Defence, described those who jeered at British troops returning home as “cretins”. Advertisement I’m not so sure the jeering was that innocent, but Geddes’s concluding remark—that “unless you or the Government can explain and justify Britain’s war activities, you cannot expect to have the country on your side”—is unimpeachable. Not so “SM’s” reply. Here is another quotation from his execrable letter. “It is important to remember that our decision to take action (sic) in Iraq was driven by Saddam Hussein’s refusal to co-operate with the UN-sponsored weapons inspections… The former Prime Minister has expressed his regret for any information, given in good faith, concerning weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, which has subsequently proven to be incorrect.” I am left breathless by this lie. Saddam Hussein did not “refuse to co-operate” with the UN weapons inspectors. The whole problem was that—to the horror of Blair and Bush—the ghastly Saddam did co-operate with them, and the UN weapons team under Hans Blix was about to prove that these “weapons of mass destruction” were non-existent; hence the Americans forced Blix and his men and women to leave Iraq so that they and Blair could stage their illegal invasion. I saw Blix’s aircraft still on the ground at Baghdad airport just two days before the attack. Note, too, the weasel words. Blair did not give his information “in good faith”, as SM claims. He knew—and the Ministry of Defence knew (and I suppose SM knew)—they were untrue. Or “incorrect” as “SM” coyly writes. Then again: “We can assure you that the Government would not have engaged in military action if it were not satisfied that such a decision was justified and lawful. The former Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith, confirmed on 17 March 2003 that authority to use force against Iraq existed from the combined effect of UN Security Council Resolutions 678, 687 and 1441.” But as an outraged Tom Geddes points out in his reply to this remark, “You must be aware that the decision to wage war on Iraq was neither justified nor lawful. The Attorney General’s advice has been widely described as ‘flawed’. Given that his previous advice was that an attack would be unlawful, we all know what ‘flawed’ means. I suspect the MoD (Ministry of Defence) also knows.” So do I. I’m also sure that this is a standard “reply sheet”, sent out to all dissenting English people. The sentence “millions of Iraqis now live free of Saddam’s oppression and have control of their own destiny” is pure public relations—not least because it fails to mention that up to a million Iraqis have not been able to control their own destiny since 2003 because they happen to be dead as a result of our invasion. There’s a lovely bit at the end of “SM’S” letter where he (or I suppose it could be a she) says that “our brave servicemen and women ... are ... preparing Basra airport for transfer to Iraqi control…” Well of course they are, because – since their own retreat from Basra city—Basra airport is the only square mile of Iraq in which the British are still in occupation. The letter ends with “SM’S” surely sublime hope that this “letter goes some way to addressing your concerns” and I can only repeat Tom Geddes’ reply: “I am grateful for the length of your response, but shocked by its contents.” So am I. No doubt, when the Brown Government—or the Cameron government—holds its inquiry into this illegal war, “SM” will re-emerge as a witness or at least a spokesperson. By then, I suppose the “Iraqi Operations Team” will have been closed down—even, perhaps, by then transmogrified into the “Afghanistan Operations Team” with a parallel set of historical lies—but I trust there will be a retired librarian on hand to point this out. CommentsAre you a Truthdig member yet? Login now, or register with Truthdig. Add Your Comment |
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By Ngan hang, June 26, 2011 at 6:29 pm Link to this comment
Oh ! your address is die ! could you check again .
Report this____________________
Tai chinh ngan hang
Ngan hang
gia vang
Vang
By KDelphi, May 4, 2009 at 9:03 am Link to this comment
We employed “mini-nukes”, didnt we?
Report thisBy felicity, May 4, 2009 at 9:01 am Link to this comment
The WMD lie also ended up killing a great many of our own military. Marching north to Bagdhad in ‘03 our military passed huge arsenals of stored Iraqi weaponry which they were instructed to ‘leave alone’ because disturbing the contents might set off “nuclear devices.” A lie known by some but kept from many who would eventually die because of it.
Probably the only time in recorded history that an ‘enemy’ has had easy access to - and taken full advantage of - materiel which invading forces have purposely left untouched. We may as well have sent in shipments of weaponry to the insurgents as to leave those arsenals in tact.
Report thisBy NYCartist, May 4, 2009 at 7:56 am Link to this comment
Good article by Fisk. The lies keep popping up.
Report thisBy tomack, May 4, 2009 at 6:56 am Link to this comment
“...either through terrorism OR sectarian violence” Well, that leaves out a third choice quite nicely doesn’t it?
Another wash under the bridge, just like we will when we Finally leave.
Report thisBy Druthers, May 4, 2009 at 12:25 am Link to this comment
Insurgents and terrorists are not, I regret to say, so scrupulous.”
Report thisYes, how irresponsible of them. They keep getting in the way of our freedom bullets destined to protect them from themselves.
It is so evident that “we” know best and such a pity we have to force “them” to admit this, even obliging us to torture. What villains.
After all the trouble and expense of transporting an army to attack and occupy their country it is inconceivable that they be so ungrateful. The wretches. The facts are there. It is a beautiful world and it belongs to US!
By Fadel Abdallah, May 3, 2009 at 8:03 pm Link to this comment
If one doesn’t have a sense of shame or remorse, he / she will continue to spin the Iraqi story as long as he/she wants!
However, I am sure this isn’t the final spinning they will put on this crime. Unless and until some big heads of the criminal gang face a court of justice and are hanged for their crimes, any one who participated in these crimes, even remotely, will continue to find it convenient to spin the Iraq story and will continue to reap the fruits of their crimes through writing books and giving twisted speeches and interviews.
Heard about the merchants of death?!
Report thisBy Paul_GA, May 3, 2009 at 5:31 pm Link to this comment
My guess, Hippie4ever, is that Obama has the same problem Bush Jr. (and LBJ) did—he thinks America can do ANYTHING.
Report thisBy dr wu, May 3, 2009 at 2:33 pm Link to this comment
These turkeys regret nothing. Even since Churchill used poison against the Kurds the Brits have been up their eyeballs in shit. Good riddance to them. Leave Afghanistan as well-take the US with you.
Report thisBy hippie4ever, May 3, 2009 at 1:57 pm Link to this comment
Now that the Treasury’s mostly depleted there go the hobbies—Imperialism, Crusades, saturation “targeted” bombings, destabilization programs. Someone should get the POTUS to understand that Afganistan is a hideous nightmare dwarfing Vietnam, and the US will lose. Does Obama really want a legacy compared to Lyndon Johnson?
Besides, there’s lots to do in this shattered country, or hasn’t anyone in power noticed? Guess the grass is as green as ever in the country clubs. It’s time the senators and reps in Congress dropped some money onto ordinary people hurt by Capitalist debauchery. Or haven’t they learned that historically, revolutions have been fueled by poverty and hunger.
Report thisBy srelf, May 3, 2009 at 10:02 am Link to this comment
Robert, SM is short for SadoMasochist.
Report thisBy blogdog, May 3, 2009 at 9:09 am Link to this comment
RE: “the Great Game” abroad.
Indeed! High time the global finance oligarchy be stripped of its use and abuse of our military, whose legal mission is to defend the Constitution, not advance their global agenda.
Make all the noise you want about the millions freed from the iron fist of Saddam, just remember the CIA created him, supplied him with all the WMD he needed to control his territory, set a trap for him in Gulf War I, then took him down when he failed to toe the sanctions line, which had nothing to do with weapons - it was pricing Iraqi oil in Euros rather than Dollars that nailed his coffin - just one more scene in “the Great Game,” now being directed once again by Z-Big behind Obama’s left cover, as the drones keep bombing innocents in the Swat Valley and every other sort of black-op provocation imaginable is executed, day by day from Basra to Pesharwa - the goal: instill chaos, fail states!
Report thisBy Paul_GA, May 3, 2009 at 8:08 am Link to this comment
Begging your pardon, Purple Girl, but if the US economy tanks, who’s going to “save” Iraq and Afghanistan from “whatever forces may move in afterwards”? I’d rather beat feet for home and let the Iraqis and Afghans sort out their problems their way. Something tells me this country will problems aplenty in the coming years right here at home, and lots of folks will demand of those people in Mordor-on-the-Potomac that they quit playing “the Great Game” abroad.
Report thisBy freepressmyass, May 3, 2009 at 8:05 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Let’s not forget Operation Northwoods.
http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/news/20010430/index.html
The only thing that stopped it was the president. Considering the corporate warmongers in the Oval Office since, it’s easier for plans like these to become a reality.
The caldestine agencies are out of control and so far gone, it’s doubtful they can be reigned in anymore.
“Hiding evil is the trademark of a totalitarianist government.”
Report thisSenator Frank Church
By Purple Girl, May 3, 2009 at 6:29 am Link to this comment
Coitus Interruptus once again for Afghani’s? Really.
Report thisBeing someone who had no desire to screw either the Afghani’s or the Iraqi’s by invading either, I can not in good conscience agree with leaving them unfilled and in the ‘wet spot’ again.
Iraq was an invasion purley for Oil, and possibly a lil’ bravado to vindicate Daddy HW. Afghanistan was a miss guided attempt to deflect away from the real primordial hot bed of The UAE. Afghanistan was nothing more than the College campus for the ideology priviledged UAE silver spooned native sons who want to earn a ‘glory Story’ and stroke their own egos. They conned less privildged to committ heinous acts and even suicide to padd their own Resumes. All of course far away from their sacred homelands.
The insurency into Afghanistan began when the Russians moved in, was backed and funded by officials operating under the radar in our Gov’t. These rag tag invaders not only used the Afghani land as their ‘line in the Sand’, they used the people and their resources as a cash cow- reason Afghanistan became such a player on the world market for herione.
These covert operative not only helped push the Russian out- they helped infest the Afghani country with opportunists.When Russia pulled out,so did the funding coming from US sources, leaving a huge vaccuum for AQ and the Taliban.
We became respsonsible for the Plight of the Afghani people during the Reagan years, and we screwed them royal.
We did the same thing to the Iraqi’s, by backing and providing weapons to Saddam during the iran/iraq war. We helped build Saddams tyrannical Reign- provided teh anthrax he used on the Kurd. Then we left them to suffer under his delusion of granduer following the uncondtional ‘love’ he’d gotten from the Reagan years. Next HW dry humps the iraqi’s with a half flaccid invasion, only to leave them again to suffer under Saddams further inflated ego and menace.
I am all for ending these illegal and unnecessary invasion, but I am not for leaving either of these communities to fall Victim once again to whatever forces may move in afterwards. it is not fair to them , nor is it in our best interest to Withdrawl hastily.Lessons from our past, coitus interruptus only adds fuel to the fire of resentment and retribution.
By Paul_GA, May 3, 2009 at 4:21 am Link to this comment
If one has to send troops thousands of miles overseas to fight a war on another continent, then that war is not a just one, no matter how it may be justified by minions of the State.
Report thisBy ardee, May 3, 2009 at 4:08 am Link to this comment
Why are we continually surprised by the lies, the manipulation of events and the so-called ‘black ops’ that seek to prove the unprovable?
When, I cannot help but wonder, are we going to say, ‘enough is enough’ to our governments, whether USA, Great Britain or anywhere that justice means profit? The lies stand exposed,the memos made public, the truth of discovery at least partially achieved, the rascals are known, the evidence damning yet the prosecutions not begun!
Our current administration believes that ‘moving forward’ is more responsible than investigating constitutional and civil violations. I say that to leave crimes unpunished is to guarantee further crimes.
“I wish I could love my country and justice too.” Albert Camus
Report thisBy blogdog, May 3, 2009 at 1:21 am Link to this comment
Now for a reality check: The British, for their part in the CIA/MI6/MOSSAD nexus of black operations, has been up to their same old tricks, those codified by Brigadier General Frank Kitson in “Low intensity operations: subversion, insurgency, peacekeeping” (1971).
http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/27/054.html
The British SAS was on mission in Basra in 2005 and were tripped up by local patriots - this is a snap shot of the strategy of destabilization for the entire Middle East - every incident is suspect - any kidnapping, beheading, suicide bombing may be a black-op provocation - detailed report in the link below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZRXlsXC1gg
Report thisBy KDelphi, May 2, 2009 at 8:30 pm Link to this comment
They should run off copies, with “fill in the blanks” for all “coalition partners’, so the uS and others wont have to make up things even more absurd…like a form letter…
Report thisBy CaptainAldo, May 2, 2009 at 4:26 pm Link to this comment
From Bunker Hill To Baghdad: Pinter’s Dispatch To Obama, Bush, Blair, etc.
The following applies to both the US and England:
“The crimes of the United States have been systematic, constant, vicious, remorseless, but very few people have actually talked about them. You have to hand it to America. It has exercised a quite clinical manipulation of power worldwide while masquerading as a force for universal good. It’s a brilliant, even witty, highly successful act of hypnosis…It’s a scintillating stratagem.”
for more:
Report thishttp://aldovidali.com/general/from-bunker-hill-to-baghdad-pinters-dispatch-to-obama