« Well, Hey, We Never Promised You a Rose Garden | Main | "Iraq Was Disarmed" »
January 01, 2005
"Elections" in Fallujah Around the Corner
Remember how we were constantly told that the operation in Fallujah was taking place in order to provide a "secure and stable enough situation to be able to conduct nationwide elections in January"? All that talk about we had to make sure Fallujah's residents could vote, and thus had to attack?
Well, here's a glimpse of the current state of the town:
U.S. and Iraqi officials say that they tried to warn Falloujans that it was too soon to return, but that they let them go last week after a groundswell of protest. Officials also face pressure to reopen the city before the election. The U.S.-led invasion of the city last month was prompted, in part, by a desire to clear the way for the vote....
After enduring three hours of military checkpoints and searches, Atiya and two brothers anxiously reentered the city Monday, uncertain what to expect.
U.S. troops handed them leaflets warning against a myriad of dangers and advising them that the U.S. military could not guarantee their safety. Don't drink the water, the leaflets warned, or eat food left behind.
Every resident is required to carry a small card outlining special new rules for the city. There's a 6 p.m. curfew. No weapons are allowed. Graffiti and public gatherings are illegal. Cars and visitors are banned.
Males between the ages of 15 and 55 must carry special identification cards. U.S. military officials have announced plans to use fingerprinting and retina scans to prevent insurgents from returning.
The whole L.A. Times article is worth reading.
What amazes me is how it can be reported with a straight face that we do what we do in order to ensure elections can be held in Iraq.
Posted by zeynep at January 1, 2005 08:02 PM
Trackback Pings
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.underthesamesun.org/mt-tb.cgi/357
Comments
and what further amazes me is that we report our intentions with a straight face, publicly without batting an eyelid, as though there is no question that what we are doing is right - never mind it repeats exactly the tactics we have deplored and used to demonize other countries throughout our history as the world's leading free and moral nation.
i guess we quit asking the question, "how did ordinary german citizens become inhumane tools of a corrupt and evil government?"
Posted by: m at January 2, 2005 09:36 AM