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Talking Points
Petraeus-Crocker Hearing: Political Theater on Message
April 9 - Even before the House version gets underway on Wednesday, it’s clear that Day One of the Petraeus-Crocker show is all about political theater – starring a four-star general with a chest full of medals and political ambition, and a soft-spoken self-deprecating ambassador, both straight out of central casting. But the real goals had to do with Iran, justifying the surge, and defending a permanent occupation of Iraq. By Phyllis Bennis.
Talking Points
Maliki Offensive and Bush Iraq Strategy Failing
March 30 - The Iraqi government’s U.S.-backed offensive that began on March 25 was not designed to go after “criminals” and was not limited to Basra. It was designed to eliminate the military and political power of Shi’a cleric Moqtada al Sadr, Maliki’s most powerful Shi’a rival, ahead of the provincial elections set for October. The U.S. knew about the planned attacks long ago, and has played a major role in the fighting; Britain has played some role as well. Large-scale desertions among government troops, especially in Baghdad, have been reported. Despite a curfew imposed on Baghdad, huge protests against the offensive broke out in the streets of the Sadr City neighborhood of Baghdad. Direct U.S. involvement – including attacks by helicopter gunships (killing 78 “bad guys” on one day in Basra alone, according to the Pentagon), coordinating attacks and calling in air support – was acknowledged on the 28th. But that support has been insufficient, and the U.S.- and UK-trained Iraqi government troops are still losing against Sadr’s forces. With Maliki having to be evacuated under fire from the Basra palace where he was “directing” the offensive, and the Iraqi government forces collapsing before the stronger Sadr forces, it is clear Maliki miscalculated his own capacity. As the BBC reported it, “Maliki blinked first.” By Phyllis Bennis, published in AfterDowningStreet, Al Jazeera, Alternatives International, Transnational Institute, United for Peace and Justice.
Interview
Winter Soldier: Iraq and Vietnam, Abu Ghraib & My Lai
March 18 - We've heard from the generals; we've heard from the admirals; we've heard from the politicians. Now it's the veterans' turn. One of the panels today dealt with the question of racism, the question of racism at the highest levels. One of the vets said, and I thought it was a very apt way to put it, that the slippery slope of morality goes from top to bottom, not from bottom to top. They don't start racist ideas at the lowest levels, at the lowest ranks of the military; it starts at the top and it filters down. By Phyllis Bennis, published in The Real News.