Whatever the outcome of Iraq’s upcoming “elections”, the US
will
maintain military
administrative and economic control of Iraq for the foreseeable
future.
THE
US MAINTAINS ALL MEANINGFUL MILITARY CONTROL
150,000 US troops will remain in Iraq for an indefinite period and
American contractors are
presently building 14 permanent US bases there.
THE
US MAINTAINS ALL MEANINGFUL ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROL
The US is building in Iraq the largest embassy in the world which will
have 1000 permanent US
staff. John Negroponte, who was US ambassador to Honduras during the
US-supported military
dictatorships which killed thousands in Central America in the 1980s,
is the new ambassador to
Iraq. He doles out billions of dollars in aid and coordinates control
of 150,000 American troops.
Prior to leaving his position as head of the Coalition Provisional
Authority,
Paul Bremer issued a
series of edicts that affect how Iraq will be governed for years to
come. He appointed at least two
dozen Iraqis to government jobs with five-year terms including Iraq's
new national security
advisor and national intelligence chief. This means the US will have
high-placed allies in
government regardless of who wins the upcoming Iraqi elections.
Funding of the Iraqi government will depend for years largely on
appropriations
by the US
Congress.
THE
US MAINTAINS ALL MEANINGFUL ECONOMIC CONTROL
Prior to leaving Iraq, with little input from any Iraqis, Paul Bremer
committed billions of dollars
to projects Iraq is now obligated to carry out. He also signed
orders which together provide for ...
Thus, the US corporations that have received billions of tax-payer
dollars
for reconstruction in
Iraq could own every business, do all the work, and send all of their
money home. Nothing need
be reinvested in Iraq nor specifically designed to aid the Iraqi
economy.
Finally, the International Monetary Fund has just been given
permission
to take control of Iraq’s
Economy. The IMF, and its sister the World Bank, both of which are
dominated by the most
industrialized nations, have a long history of imposing economic
programs
on poor countries
which take control from local governments, benefit local elites and
multinational corporation,
exclude the poor and restrict spending on health, education and other
social services.
"For many conservatives, Iraq is now the test case for whether
the
U.S. can engender American-
style free-market capitalism within the Arab world." Neil King
Jr., Wall Street Journal, 5/1/03.
As long as the Iraqis do not have economic, administrative and
security
control of their own
country, elections mean little. In fact, they seem more of a public
relations ploy for an immoral
and illegal occupation.
(For more info on Iraq and the IMF see
http://www.globalpolicy.org/socecon/develop/debt/2004/1123imfiraq.htm)
SOURCES
1. “permanent bases” Chicago Tribune 3/23/04 see
http://www.globalsecurity.org/org/news/2004/040323-enduring-bases.htm
and http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0930/p17s02-cogn.html
2. “US Embassy” see http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A48082-2004Jan1?language=printer
and
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/special_packages/iraq/10833316.htm?1c
3. “Bremer’s orders” see http://www.geocities.com/lclane2/bremer.html
and
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A8665-2004Jun26?language=printer
ACTIONS
1. Write President Bush at president@whitehouse.gov
to let him know, that you know, what’s
really going on in Iraq. (See sample letter below)
2. Seek alternative sources of news and information (see
www.8thdaycenter.org
and click on
“Links”).
3. Take heart, a just world is possible if we continue to work together
to make it a happen.
SAMPLE
LETTER
Dear President Bush,
It is clear to me that whatever the outcome of Iraq’s upcoming
“elections”,
the US will maintain
military administrative and economic control of Iraq for
the foreseeable future.
THE US MAINTAINS ALL MEANINGFUL MILITARY CONTROL
150,000 US troops will remain in Iraq for an indefinite period and
American contractors are
presently building 14 permanent US bases there.
THE US MAINTAINS ALL MEANINGFUL ADMINISTRATIVE CONTROL
The US is building in Iraq the largest embassy in the world which will
have 1000 permanent US
staff. John Negroponte, who was US ambassador to Honduras during the
US-supported military
dictatorships which killed thousands in Central America in the 1980s,
is the new ambassador to
Iraq. He doles out billions of dollars in aid and coordinates control
of 150,000 American troops.
Prior to leaving his position as head of the Coalition Provisional
Authority,
Paul Bremer issued a
series of edicts that affect how Iraq will be governed for years to
come. He appointed at least two
dozen Iraqis to government jobs with five-year terms including Iraq's
new national security
advisor and national intelligence chief. This means the US will have
high-placed allies in
government regardless of who wins the upcoming Iraqi elections.
Funding of the Iraqi government will depend for years largely on
appropriations
by the US
Congress.
THE US MAINTAINS ALL MEANINGFUL ECONOMIC CONTROL
Prior to leaving Iraq, with little input from any Iraqis, Paul Bremer
committed billions of dollars
to projects Iraq is now obligated to carry out. He also signed
orders which together provide for . .
.
1. the foreign ownership of all of Iraq’s public enterprises (for
example,
by US corporations)
2. full ownership rights by foreign corporations of Iraqi businesses
3. permission for foreign corporations to take all profits out of the
country
4. a Flat Tax in which everyone – corporations, along with rich
and
poor persons – pays the
same rate of taxes on their income
5. the opening of Iraq's banks to foreign control
6. permission for foreign corporations not to hire any local skilled
construction workers
7. the elimination of nearly all trade barriers (which means foreign
companies can flood Iraq with
“cheap” goods making it impossible for local businesses to compete).
So far, Iraq's oil – at least its extraction and initial processing
– is excluded but corporations such
as Haliburton are involved in all areas of Iraq’s oil production.
Thus, the US corporations that have received billions of tax-payer
dollars
for reconstruction in
Iraq could own every business, do all the work, and send all of their
money home. Nothing need
be reinvested in Iraq nor specifically designed to aid the Iraqi
economy.
Finally, the International Monetary Fund has just been given
permission
to take control of Iraq’s
Economy. The IMF, and its sister the World Bank, both of which are
dominated by the most
industrialized nations, have a long history of imposing economic
programs
on poor countries
which take control from local governments, benefit local elites and
multinational corporation,
exclude the poor and restrict spending on health, education and other
social services.
Clearly, as long as the Iraqis do not have economic, administrative
and security control of their
own country, elections mean little. In fact, they seem more of a public
relations ploy for an
immoral and illegal occupation.
It is time for the US to end its occupation of Iraq and begin to pay reparation to the Iraqi people.
Sincerely,