The USA is not a peace-loving country. Nor do we particularly value life. At least, not as much as we value cheap oil.
I love what Bush said about stem-cell research: “I made it very clear… that the use of federal money… to promote science which destroys life in order to save life is – I’m against that.”
Does this apply to smart bombs as well? Nuclear weapons?
Anybody out there still think Iraq has been made more livable since the US troops landed?
Aye, aye, aye.
Not I.
That’s not how I meant, “Aye, aye, aye!” 
I didn’t think so… but then… aye, yi, yi! :roll:
The irony of so much of this to me is the following. There are about 24-25 million people in Iraq. They are sitting atop a huge field of oil, much like their neighbors in Kuwait.
They SHOULD be 'effin wealthy if you divvy up that oil per capita. Of course they have had this tortuous confused history for all these decades since the creation of the “country” and that’s not how it is.
No matter how bad you think what the US is doing there NOW, it slays me that these people aren’t better off per capita. Of course it wasn’t gonna happen under Saddam, especially after the Kuwait war and the embargo. But somehow, some way there should be a future for them of prosperity under the current petrol-dependent world culture.
I truly wonder if they realize this fact…
Yes they most certainly do, that’s why they rise up against the powers that are making it so. That’s why the US overthrows governments, even democracies, and installs dictators – to repress the revolt. You’ve touched on a key piece here – who IS profiting from their oil? This is the driving force of US foreign policy – profiting from other country’s natural resources. It’s not limited to oil either.
And it’s not limited to US either. All rich coutries somehow profited of other coutries natural resources. In Europe it was through colonization, in America through wars against “dictators” who were sometimes really dictators, sometimes not.
And you’re correct. I don’t know where you are, but I live in America. As an American it’s my responsibility to speak out against what my government does in my name. Until my country comes clean I can’t critisize other countries for the same. If you’re in a country that also does this – then you know what your responsibility is too.
Well I’m in Paris… And France has a very long colonial history. And a very heavy responsibility in what happens nowadays in Africa.
All other disputes aside, why then is Kuwait allowed to have such a high standard of living? What do they do differently? I know that they are so wealthy that they have to import laborers to do most menial jobs…
I almost hear echoes of socialism, here, Week. 
Not totally up on my studies here, but I believe that the royal family is what passes for the average citizen there, though I may be wrong.
I just remember hearing that all of their social needs were met, good schooling, infrastructure, etc. I don’t believe they have a true democratic republic, per se, and if the US isn’t meddling there more, maybe it’s because they participate in some sort of acceptable way in OPEC etc etc.
I know they have a small population, but once again, combined with all the oil wealth it can guarantee a high standard of living. Perhaps they don’t have the diversity of populations there, leading to ethnic strife and the need for a strongman…
I know that just across the gulf, Yemen had terrific social turmoil, including a civil war, but I don’t think the US got involved there, at least publicly.
Actually, the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait benefited US oil corporations. Kuwait was producing oil at a level that put US oil companies at a disadvantage before the Iraqi invasion. Besides looking for a pretext for war, this will help to explain why James Baker sent a telex to the US ambassador to Kuwait that he “doesn’t have a problem” with Iraq’s announced intention to invade Kuwait.
Kuwait is a constitutional monarchy and it’s economic system is modeled on a social welfare state, and calls for a large measure of government regulation. It is one of the richest states in the world on a per capita basis, and oil revenues allow the Kuwaiti state to offer a wide range of new services to the population. But they also limit the beneficiaries to those whose families could prove residence in Kuwait before 1920. Of the 1.9 million Kuwaiti subjects, fewer than 800,000 were considered citizens and have full civil rights. (Around the time of the Gulf War)
If I recall accurately, Iraq invaded Kuwait in retaliation for the buddy-buddy transactions twixt Kuwait and US, et al, that made it impossible for Iraq to make even decent money on their oil. Something about dropping the price so low that it cut Iraq out.
Because Kuwait has a population of a little over 2 million*, of which a staggering 60% are non-citizen “guest workers”.
So the Kuwaiti oil wealth gets spent for the benefit of less than a million citizens, in comparison with Iraq’s 25 million.
*2004 figures: total population of 2,257,549 which includes 1,291,354 non-nationals (July 2004 est.)
Thanks for info, all.
I’d jump in and rant like I did three years ago - before the war - at several Peace Marches from San Francisco to Los Angeles. The problem is, I’ve lost confidence in the average American’s ability to look past the tripe that passes for truth on Fox News.
What killed my conviction?
- First we went to war on a “pack of lies” as the Honorable George Galloway asserted in his clock cleaning in the U.S. Senate (though it was buried in the U.S. media.
2.Then somehow the most hypocritical, lying, incompetent U.S. President in my lifetime was reelected by the ignorant majority. He and his Oz “man behind the curtain” New American Century posse.
It’s Like watching a train wreck. It’s fascinating to watch at first - but after too much carnage I’ve become nauseous and turned my back.
I’ve decided what little first aid I can render will have no impact until this misguided neo-con administration is replaced, the majority lap dogs in the Senate and House are replaced, and the Democrats get some stones (see George Galloway’s performance if you want to know how it’s done).
Until then I try to avoid being contentious. Two things help me:
- My dad taught me “Don’t try to teach a pig to sing…”
- The 22nd verse of the Dao de Jing, in part “The sage accepts the world…does not contend, so none contend against him.”
Oh! Looks like I ranted after all. I’m having a hard time getting this “sage” thing right.
It’s that old ‘coming of sage’ thing. 