What's an Iraqi or Iranian life worth?

Balatarin
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sadegh
by sadegh
11-Jun-2008
 

After detailing the manifold experiments with LSD, radiation, chemical and biological agents undertaken by the US government and the Pentagon on American servicemen and women, often without their consent and without legal recourse, the exposure of American servicemen and woman to chemical weapons in the first Gulf War (expressly denied until fairly recently by the Pentagon), the existence and continue denial of Gulf War syndrome, and more recently in the Bush administration’s Iraq War, the fact that families have been forced to purchase bullet proof vests, GPS equipment and other paraphernalia in order to better the chances of their sons and daughters’ survival, because the standard of equipment provided to military personnel has proven to be astoundingly inadequate, and unnecessarily cost a great many lives, the famous political commentator and ex-State Department official, William Blum, in his book, Rogue State: A Guide to the World’s Only Superpower, writes:

"The moral of this little slice of history is simple: If the United States government does not care about the health and welfare of its own soldiers, if American leaders are not moved by the prolonged pain and suffering of the wretched warriors they enlist to fight the empire's wars, how can it be argued, how can it be believed, that they care about foreign peoples? At all."

So in this context I would like to ask a question to which many of us almost intuitively know the answer: is an Iraqi life worth as much as an American life? Madeleine Albright, the first woman Secretary of State clearly didn't think so. Albright was more than happy to sacrifice 500,000 Iraqi children to keep the UN sanctions regime in place, spearheaded by the administration of Bush Snr, and buttressed by the firm ‘resolve’ of the Clinton administration.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuNxtok_A54

And they say that a woman president might let her 'emotions’, 'sensitivities' or even ‘innate compassion’ cloud her judgement to prevent her acting decisively in a time of ‘national emergency’ or god forbid, from pushing ‘the nuclear button’.

If we weren't already disabused of this deeply ingrained and inveterate misconception, then Hillary certainly put it to bed when she threatened to 'obliterate' Iran in the event of an Iranian nuclear strike against Israel (a scaremongering ploy pulled right out of the Karl Rove playbook, which has no place in a presidential campaign, not only because Iran has no nuclear weapons program according to even the US’s own most recent intelligence estimate, but because such a scenario is so far detached from the reality of the region’s geopolitics, which is foremost rooted in the ‘ethics’ of realpolitik, to warrant serious discussion and be anything more than a clumsy invocation of the ‘politics of fear’ to net a couple of cheap votes).

This trend of indifference to the lives of Iraqis has of course been continued by the Bush administration, all under the guise of ‘humanitarian intervention’, the latest metamorphosis of imperial ideology. Just turn on the tube and we’re incessantly bombarded with the prattling of Bush administration officials who from the comfort of plush studios in Washington have the gall to tell us that ‘Iraqi civilian causalities are a necessary part of war’, ‘collateral damage is inevitable’, ‘Iraqis must die so they can one day be free’, ‘Iraqi lives are the price that needs to be paid for stability’, and all the many other platitudes trotted out to justify mass-death.

And (some) Iranians, please don't except yourselves and be fooled into subscribing to the racial-supremacist ideology of Aryanism and the many other pseudo-scientific myths and mumbo-jumbo, which pass for polite conversation in some circles. One gentleman who was a former general in the Shah's army even confessed to me once that he wished Hitler had won WWII since Iran would today be in a much better position as a result, because 'we' share the same 'pure and unsullied racial descent'!. This is the startling level of self-delusion which possesses many and continues to grip those Iranians calling for a military strike against their country and compatriots. Sorry to shatter (some of) your 'lofty' vision of yourselves but as far as the administration is concerned, you’re not the scions of 'the glorious Aryans of yore' (yeah, right), you're just a bunch of 'brown skinned savages’...and it is of absolutely no consequence how many must die in order to ensure American interests i.e. access to plentiful energy resources, Israel’s regional hegemony and the preponderance of Pax Americana.

We need to come to terms with the fact that the Bush administration and other hawks (including a vast swathe of so-called ‘native informers’ are calling for an attack on Iran and how they couldn’t care less about Iranian lives and the sacrifice that must be borne out, solely by the Iranian people, mind you, in order to fulfil their agenda and their vision for the ‘redrawing’ of Middle East i.e. a bunch of compliant client regimes which function as little more than American bases and gas stations…Civilian deaths in the Bush administration’s imperial wars of aggression and amoral calculus have been reduced to statistics and virtual bodies without families, feelings, dreams or ambitions…

This is exactly what the German-Jewish political philosopher Hannah Arendt called ‘the banality of evil’. Though much of the Bush administration’s chicanery is the result of orchestrated plans for global hegemony, at the lower levels of bureaucracy and the media’s depiction of events, there remains a clear disconnect and dissonance between the bureaucrats who perpetuate the war in the terms of their own careerism and instincts to ‘self-preservation’ and the deeply human tragedy which befalls the victims of what, when all is said and done, is a man-made catastrophe…

 

Balatarin
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more from sadegh
 
sadegh

Jamshid I absolutely agree

by sadegh on Thu Jun 12, 2008 01:41 PM PDT

Jamshid I absolutely agree that the IRI uses the discourse of anti-imperialism to justify its own brutalization of the Iranian people...This is undoubtedly the case and it's inexcusable...but critics of the United States shouldn't be branded 'pro-regime' because some of their arguments happen to resemble those manipulated by the IRI. We require a greater subltly of mind so that we can make vital distinctions such as these - THEY ARE NOT THE SAME. The discourse of anti-imperialism, which is by no means inherently leftist, just ask Mossadegh, wasn't delegitimized by Stalin's callous manipulation of it, just as it continues to be relevant and pertinent, desite the IRI's despicable manipulation of the Palestinian cause and various other neo-imperial endeavors in order to score lame ideological points...Thanks for your input, I sincerely wish you all the best...

Ba Arezu-ye Movafaghiat, Sadegh

 


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jamshid

Re: Sadegh

by jamshid on Thu Jun 12, 2008 01:27 PM PDT

I too am against imperialism and US bullying attitude. In fact 99.9% of Iranians are. However, there is a problem.

The IRI propaganda machine has used the US "imperialists" and "zionist" Israel (and in the past Saddam too) as a diversion to shift attention from Iran's internal problems and IRI's incompetence and murderous activities, to the "threats" that the foreign US and Israel are causing against Iran.

However, like everything else, if something is overdone for a prolonged period of time, it loses its effectiveness, specially when you are dealing with a people that have lost so much that they have to be wiser and more careful.

Today, most people in Iran (excluding the "khodis" of IRI) just brush these talks off and don't pay attention EVEN if it is stated by sincere individuals. The overuse of these sort of talks by the IRI propaganda machine is to be blamed for this.

Then there are those Iranians who are bleeding and are in pain because of IRI. There are many. Too many. They are rightfully sensitive, overly emotional and very much suspicious.

So when they read an article that have much resemblence to those from the IRI's propganda machine (like yours despite your good intentions), they understandably immediately associate it to the IRI. You are then seen by them as a "probable" IRI supporter in disguise.

This is mostly IRI's fault and I already explained why. Our problems are not the US or Israel. It is the IRI and some of our own cultural shortcomings.


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sadegh

Re: Anti-Sadegh

by sadegh on Thu Jun 12, 2008 12:05 PM PDT

First: I'm not a Marxist. I'm a liberal, where have I called for a proletarian revolution or the dictatorship of the proletariat or praised Lenin??? Nowhere as far as I am aware. You're clearly a regular user on this site who's too cowardly to write under their regular username...

Second: Your arrogance is astounding. You have no right to tell me what to write about. I'm not going to fit in with the chorus of voices who you apparently approve of just to make you feel comfortable. Plus there is already a slew of propagandists on this site who support the predatory agenda of the administration - read their work if it makes you feel better and please don't bother with mine. There's also Rooz and Kayhan (UK) and plenty of other critics of the IRI so I'll leave them to it. Might I add that I have also criticized Egypt's American-backed autocracy, Chinese imperialism in the case of Tibet and the IRI. But, yeah let's remain purely parochial. And you're furthermore incredibly arrogant thinking that I write for you...as the song goes 'you're so vain, you probably think this song is about you'. Like the BBC's defenders argued when Jerry Springer the Opera was played on television, if you don't like it don't watch it. don't worry it won't hurt my feelings and whatever you may feel you're under no obligation I swear...

Third: What is your name? Then perhaps I can check out your own apparently stunningly original contributions. The calamity and misdeeds of American foreign policy are a broken record and hence are nothing new - many choose nevertheless to continue TO POINT THEM OUT, since a great many still remain oblivious. All I can gather is that you're 'anti' me...gee, that's impressive...let me read your work...

Four: Remedy your astounding ignorance. I have denounced the IRI many many many times on this site. as either a 'theocratic tyranny', 'gender apartheid regime', 'a persecutor of religious and ethnic minorities' etc...etc... So please don't make baseless allegations that have no basis in fact.  

Five: the fact is, is that you're just miffed because I criticize the Bush administration and the royalist hypocrites. And again, you have no right to dictate to anyone here what they should write about...

Ba Arezu-ye Movafaghiat, Sadegh

 


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default

Sadegh: Don't worry! There

by pro-sunni (not verified) on Thu Jun 12, 2008 10:52 AM PDT

Sadegh: Don't worry! There won't a war on Iran.

If wasn't clear before it should be now: the Bush administration can't afford to attack Iran. With gas already at $4 a gallon and rising almost every day, Iran figuratively and literally has the United States over a barrel. As much as the administration is tempted, it is not about to test Iran's promise to "explode" the Middle East if it is attacked.

//www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1813...


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default

Sadegh: I have never seen

by anti-sadegh (not verified) on Thu Jun 12, 2008 10:34 AM PDT

Sadegh: I have never seen you decry the atrocities committed by the Islamic Republic in a concrete fashion and with the same vigor as you display on "exposing" the Imperialist and the "great satan".

There are plenty of American sites that chew Bush and his cronies into pieces every single day. None of your information you try to convey in your writings are either new or original.

When you decide to dissect and analyze the corruption and crimes of the Islamic Republic in a way that Americans do of their own government, then you will have credibility.

P.S.I Check dailykos everyday to get my news and analysis of what's going on in the US government and I don't need an Iranian-Marxist to educate me on America.


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Fred

No discussion for Lefty/Islamists

by Fred on Thu Jun 12, 2008 09:35 AM PDT

Engaging the Lefty-Anti-Semites, the strategic allies of the Islamists, in even a halfhearted discussion only legitimizes their warped worldview. Just like one does not give heroin to an addict, this mind set needs to be challenged on each and every one of their ad nauseam allegations. The burden of proof is on them not the other way around.


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sadegh

Where do I say that the IRI

by sadegh on Thu Jun 12, 2008 09:17 AM PDT

Where do I say that the IRI values Iraqi lives? I don't, so please tell me, what are you talking about? You're guilty of seriously muddled and confused thinking - since when does the Bush administration's indifference to the value of Iraqi or Iranian lives = IRI caring about Iraqi and Iranian lives. IT DOES NOT. I NEVER SAID IT DOES. PLEASE DO NOT DISTORT MY ARGUMENTS. As Jamshid rightly pointed out the IRI does not sufficiently value the lives of its own citizens and I am sure they don't value the lives of Iraqi civilians. Thank you...

Ba Arezu-ye Movafaghiat, Sadegh

 


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default

Dear Sadegh: Did you know

by Pro-Sunni (not verified) on Thu Jun 12, 2008 08:14 AM PDT

Dear Sadegh: Did you know that Iranian funded and trained Shi'ite death-squads are responsible for killing and displacing more than one million sunni Iraqis including Iraqi Palestinians (see: Angryarab.blogspot archives)??

Do you think Iraqi's lives are considered important when the IR collaborated with the US to install the puppet Maliki Govt???

Do you think IR cares one bit about Iranians' lives when they are itching/provoking war with the US and Israel to supress any dissents forever???


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sadegh

Thanks for your reply

by sadegh on Thu Jun 12, 2008 05:10 AM PDT

Thanks for your reply Jamshid I enjoyed reading it, you made some important points, especially regarding the disastrous seduction of the left by religious obscurantism i.e. Islamism - we actually do share some genuine common ground, since I believe that we both reject the idea of sacrificing Iranian lives in the name of ideology or cynical political power plays. The only thing I disagree with is your belittlement of American imperialism - you're right, this isn't the 70s, the situation is far more dire today...See we can conduct ourselves with courtesy and mutual respect; I direct you to Q's most recent blog on AIPAC and Fred's response and my first response - Please tell me whether you think your articulate and respectful response here is equivalent to his nasty and slanderous reply to Q - for me obviously not, but please let me know what you think...Thanks again... 

Ba Arezu-ye Movafaghiat, Sadegh

 


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jamshid

Sad

by jamshid on Thu Jun 12, 2008 02:38 AM PDT

What's an Iranian life worth? I don't know if my answer would be important Sadegh. I think you should be asking this question from the current leadership in Iran. I asked the same question long ago when I first witnessed the early "human wave" offensives of basij against Iraq, right after the IRI refused Saddam's peace and reparation offer.

It didn't seem to me that Iranian lives had any values to the IRI leadership then; nor to its supporters. I don't think it does today either.

Many years later, when the IRI executed eight thousand political prisoners in less than a month, I couldn't help but to think that even Israelis gave more worth to the life of an active PLO member than the IRI regime gave to its own citizens.

So dear Sadegh, there are those who really do believe that the US gives a damn a whole lot more to its citizens' lives, by leaps and bounds, than our own IRI does to the lives of Iranians. 

I wonder. Just wondering. Why some are targeting the US government for "mistreating" its soldiers, while our own government was and still is willing to "deocrate" our young 14 years old children with a key to heaven and send them on their way to their death, as easily as drinking some water. Is it because Iranian lives are not important, and so instead we should focus on "dear" American lives?

Oh, I almost forgot! You wrote, "One gentleman who was a former general in the Shah's army even confessed to me once that he wished Hitler had won WWII... "

I find this to be such a coincidence! Once one gentleman who was and still is a cleric in Iran confessed to me that he wish the Arabs had succeeded in wiping out the Persian culture in its entirety. Then we would be speaking the prophet's language today and we could be more focused in our religious goals and duties.

Another gentleman who was a former leftist confessed to me that he wished the Soviet Union had succeeded in annexing Azarbaijan. That would have opened the door to the rest of Iran, and with Iran and its riches becoming a Soviet satelite, the Soviet Union would have never fallen apart. Today the US could not dare bullying everyone on the planet.

Don't you find this ironic, Sadegh?

In our neighborhood in Tehran, we had a wealthy family living in what back then would be considered a newly and well built mansion. Several blocks down, we had another family who was living in an old run down house that was falling apart.

The amuzing thing was that the man who owned the shack never ever criticized his own home, but all it would take was a crack, or a rust somewhere in the mansion up a few blocks, and then hell would break loose! He wouldn't stop at the criticizing the owner of the mansion, he would attack the architect, the "me'maar', and end up even criticizing the construction workers for having built such "atrocity" of a home!

I couldn't help remembering him while I was reading your very interesting and informative article.

One last remark. You wrote: "much of the Bush administration’s chicanery is the result of orchestrated plans for global hegemony, at the lower levels of bureaucracy and the media’s depiction of events, there remains a clear disconnect and dissonance between the bureaucrats who perpetuate the war in the terms of their own careerism and instincts to ‘self-preservation’ and the deeply human tragedy which befalls the victims of what, when all is said and done, is a man-made catastrophe… "

Now re-read you own above quoted paragrah again, but this time just replace "Bush" with "IRI" and replace "global" with "regional", and go back to the days of the 80s war, or even stay in the present, and then tell me if you agree with yourself or not?

You need to re-evaluate who your target audience is. We don't live in the 70s anymore. What once was considered "patriotic" and enticing among the youth of those days is now considered "old cliches" to the youth of today, a new generation whose lives are getting wasted right before their own eyes on a daily basis. They don't see the US as the problem, they see the IRI as the source of their miseries.

Oh, of course I am excluding the minority IRI supporters and their leftist allies. They still do like and crave for these sort of analysis, or for any thorn in the eyes of the imperialist US colonizer, even at the cost of Iranians' lives and happiness.

Please don't be offended by my last statement since it was not targeting you. I am certain that you are neither an IRI supporter nor a leftist ally, and that you would never put any ideology above the lives, hopes and happiness of Iranians.


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