Readers of this blog know that it is reasonably (or perhaps unreasonably) focused on issues concerning the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion. There are occasional side trips into small areas of personal concern. The one major exception is the continued effort here in Lewes to witness to the human cost of war, which effort takes the form of a Silent Vigil on Sundays.
I am not given to political postings as a rule but that rule is broken today.
There is a report in the Guardian that a secret US plan for military future in Iraq as been drawn up, one which unless challenged might slip by without congressional approval. You may read the article HERE. Assuming it is a true report it is devastating.
Credit goes to The Mad Priest for bringing this to the attention of Preludium.
What the hell is going on? In the waning days of George W. Bush's presidency the promises are being made to commit the government of the United States of America to open ended engagement in Iraq.
The Guardian writes, "The draft strategic framework agreement between the US and Iraqi governments, dated March 7 and marked "secret" and "sensitive", is intended to replace the existing UN mandate and authorises the US to "conduct military operations in Iraq and to detain individuals when necessary for imperative reasons of security" without time limit."
If this government intends that we be able to "detain individuals when necessary for imperative reasons of security" in a sovereign nation, we have become world cops. World cops are the domestic forces of a world empire. Rather than soldiers fighting foreign forces, the military in this instance becomes the police of client states.
This mess will get worse and worse and we will be damned for it.
4/08/2008
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"This mess will get worse and we will be damned for it."
ReplyDeleteI agree.
Sign my name to it and send it to el presidente G.W.Bush.
He really wants this police force, this imperialism, this new world empire to be his legacy, as if all of us in the U.S. want the same thing he does.
We don't. I don't.
Lois Keen
Mark - I am one of the many people with close ties to someone in the military - hoeing the hard road of being supportive of the individual, while deploring the actions of the administration. You will probably get some very negative feedback on this, but I think you are spot on.
ReplyDeleteWhile it's dangerous for the "whole world" to know about certain types of military strategy, this report - if true - is a different matter. Yes, even if the secret plan was just a trial balloon, or the start of negotiations. Long-term military commitment requires approval of Congress. An imperfect body, to be sure; but they are the keeper of the national purse strings, not the President of the United States. And our military forces are worn out, and so are their families. They don't complain much, but it's true.
Something big is going, on, I think. It may not be what you have reported, but there is some kernel of truth to this (IMHO). Please, this does not imply I know military secrets - I don't even want to be in that position. I'm just an observant bystander in a busy area of the country.
If this isn't a formal treaty concluded with the advice and consent of the Senate it can't bind future presidents (or congresses).
ReplyDeleteThe next president may have to spend a lot of time uncovering everything that's been done and undoing much of it. Too much has been done in secrecy.
Thanks for your excellent blog.
It fits the pattern of US behavior following the defeat of Germany and Japan and the end of hostilities in Korea. A pattern that is the foundation of the ever expanding American military empire enforced through Status of Force Agreements (SOFA's). For a depressing but succinct review of SOFA's see the 5th chapter of Chalmers Johnson's book, Nemisis, a in many way unsatisfactory book, but that 5th chapter is a real education. BTW just as the US has been in Germany, Japan and Korea for 50-60 years so we will be in Iraq unless our empire implodes a la USSR.
ReplyDeleteAlmighty God our heavenly Father, guide the nations of the world into the way of justice and truth, and establish among them that peace which is the fruit of righteousness, that they may become the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
ReplyDeleteThe facts are that the US simply can't afford an indefinite Iraq War and won't be able to borrow the money to sustain its reach indefinitely.
ReplyDeleteIt will reach a point where the annual budget deficits and resulting debt load will force a deep military and social cutback, else risk a 1990s-Latin-America-style economic meltdown with hyperinflation and the collapse of the middle class (who are already under an unsustainable debt load themselves and being subjected to increasing food and energy prices).
The empire is slowly waning. What will take its place is in God's hands. We live in interesting times.
Fortunately for us and them, the Iraqis won't put up with our crashing around in their country forever. This will end, but not on our say-so.
ReplyDelete