BETRAYED: The Iraqis who trusted America the most

[SixPackInBoxers]

I don't know how many of you get The New Yorker but the article in the March 26 edition entitled "BETRAYED: The Iraqis who trusted America the most" by George Packer should be read by all. Get it if you have not.

It brings home the ghastliness of this madness - the Iraqi War. It somehow underlines the sheer incompetence and crazyness of it all better than almost anything dealing more directly with the disaster. Those who are exposed as working as translators for the US have not been given asylum in the US if they have been unmasked because it will be a government admission that the Iraq war is a failure. Instead after loyal service they are left to be killed in Iraq.

So similar to the exit by helicopter of US personnel from the US Embassy roof in Saigon with the Vietnamese allies being kicked from boarding the helicopter and left to die at the North Vietnamese hands - one of the most haunting images ever.

"Betrayed" is upsetting reading but must be read to remind ourselves and everyone else - constantly - what the legacy of a war of choice instigated by those unfit to understand its ramifications can do to a nation - well two - Iraq and the US - and the rest of mankind. A lesson must be learnt from this. The West cannot just go on this way and muddle into another dreadful disaster.

Incidentally it is the same New Yorker magazine cover with a US serviceman in his wheel chair at the foot of the long steps up to Walter Reed Hospital with the medics looking the other way. These loyal servicemen also have been betrayed - as have so very many.

These are dreadful events which we cannot turn away from in the name of decency and humanity.

 

[White Eagle]

Here's a link to the above

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/03/26/070326fa_fact_packer

 

[Lostlover]

Good article.

They were betrayed without a doubt.

I just hate it when Americans say that Bush betrayed and lied to them. Go live in the shoes of Iraqis that you helped kill and disfigure. Re-electing Bush just kept the status quo. And then somewhere in Bush's second year of his second term he finally became a "lost" and "terrible" president. As if the prior 6 years were filled with harmony.

It's so easy to blame Bush, but many Americans, Aussies, Spaniards, and british are to blame for this by voting in officials that started this all.

Whether you like it or not, if you voted for Bush, you have hundreds of thousands of Iraqis' blood on your hands. Can't really play stupid with that if you have any integrity.

 

[Andross]

At least the Spaniards learned and kicked Aznar out of office. They now have a socialist president who withdrew their troops real quickly.

 

[springboksfan]

Unfortunately, Andross, Americans are a little slower on the uptake.

 

[SixPackInBoxers]

Here's a link to the above

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2007/03/26/070326fa_fact_packer

Thanks fuckbait.

I tried to post the entire article but it was too long for JUB. I am to computer illiterate to have figured out the internet connection.

 

[White Eagle]

You're welcome, anytime.

 

[glo-unit]

Thanks SixPack for bringing this to our attention and thank you for posting the article fuckbait. Man that is truly sad, I knew there were problems in Iraqi, but I didn't know how truly horrible the US fucked up.

 

[Lostlover]

At least the Spaniards learned and kicked Aznar out of office. They now have a socialist president who withdrew their troops real quickly.

And the Germans voted out an anti-Bush president and voted in someone that wanted warmer relations with Washington.

What's your point?

And Spain lost a lot of respect from me. The way they took troops out after the bombings. That was a victory for terrorists and they know it. It tells them terror can win.

 

[Txgoodoldboy]

This reminds me of Vietnam.

 

[SixPackInBoxers]

Yes, but it gets steadily worse.

 

[unclaimedblessing]

We betrayed our Kurdish allies after the First Gulf War.
A majority of our own citizens don't beleive anything the govt has to say.
Our former allies don't trust or beleive our leaders.
So, no one should have to feign surprise about this subject.

 

[69Strat]

And Spain lost a lot of respect from me. The way they took troops out after the bombings. That was a victory for terrorists and they know it. It tells them terror can win.

Not surprising for Spain considering they are socialists.

 

[69Strat]

This reminds me of Vietnam.

That's because politicians don't change.

 

[Nishin]

Not surprising for Spain considering they are socialists.

What does socialism have to do with Spain withdrawing its troops?

 

[playwithmemonkey]

I smell liberal propoganda. this is getting tiring