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July 29, 2002 Oil, princes and conspiracies "Those who argue that a war to overthrow Saddam Hussein would threaten chaos in the region are missing the point: chaos and war are exactly what the War Party wants . . ." opines Justin Raimondo. What the War Party also wants is oil - specifically Caspian and Saudi oil - which requires some regime changes brought on by corporate pressure and political maneuvering. History doesn't teach Eric Margolis recounts: "In the magisterial Roman Republic, father of all our western democracies, consular armies were forbidden by law to enter the city," while the administration has asked for the US military to begin domestic patrols and conduct security checks. This ignorance of history, and a US law, may lead to despotic rule over American cities and towns. Wedding Party cover-up "A preliminary UN investigation found no corroboration of American claims that its aircraft were fired on from the ground, and says there were discrepancies in US accounts of what happened." The UN report, undoubtedly awaiting Pentagon criticism, reveals that news filtered through the government must be given a second, even a third, look. Civilian deaths "... [M]ilitary history shows that killing civilians, while it can bring short-term advantage, in the long run does not break an opponent's will to resist; it usually steels it," and "steeling" it, according to Caleb Carr, weakens and discredits both sides of any conflict, best manifested in the recent bombings in the Middle East. Liquidation unchecked"...people are talking only about the excessive use of the means, and not about the method itself." The method of liquidation - "the right to execute people without trial almost as often as it pleases" - does not stop terror, only reinforces its most ardent supporters, writes Gideon Levy. Unfortunately, criticism of means is becoming nonexistent in policy debates. Armchair generals refuted Wolfowitz and Rumsfeld, two powerful armchair generals, attempt to shy the public away from the practical, military and political reasons for not invading Iraq. Once the public becomes informed that there is no threat and they are shown the high human and financial costs of an invasion, Bush and his War hawks will muster little support. Settlement concession Bush intends to ignore "one of the most troubling irritants to Palestinians:" Israeli settlements. While Bush demands a cessation of violence from the Palestinians, he hypocritically, disregards the attachment they have to the settlements, the growth of which may be the impetus to further conflict. Archives: 7/15/02 7/16/02 7/17/02 7/18/02 7/19/02 7/20/02 7/22/02 7/23/02 7/24/02 7/25/02 7/26/02 Mike Ewens is a senior at Washington University in St. Louis. Apart from his full-time student status, he is actively involved in the campus libertarian/conservative newspaper, College Libertarians and inner city tutoring programs. Economics and mathematics occupy his academic time, while his intellectual curiosity is further satisfied with political theory and foreign affairs. He is currently working as a summer intern with Antiwar.com. Contact him for information about bringing Justin Raimondo and other speakers to your campus. |