Guns do not bring peace
According to a recently released report by the United Nations, nearly 7000 civilians have been killed in Iraq in the last two months alone. With an average of over 100 civilians a day being killed, it is extremely difficult to argue that the country is not slipping into a brutal and chaotic civil war. As the months pass, and the war for “stability” drags on, more people die and the instability grows worse while the country is further fractured by sectarian violence. Iraq has been completely, and utterly destroyed by America.
The sanctions, bombings, invasions and occupation of Iraq has left it in ruins, there is no reconstruction being done other than oil industry related infrastructure. “Coalition” troops are not transferring power and security over to Iraq; instead they are strengthening their presence and control by sending thousands of additional soldiers to fuel the flames further. Sending more guns into a fight is never the answer.
In addition to the hundreds of thousands of soldiers that represent countries, there are tens of thousands of corporate soldiers also known as mercenaries operating in Iraq. Companies like ‘Blackwater' have more soldiers in Iraq than most coalition countries. These soldiers are not bound by any international laws and operate freely as guns for hire that use force indiscriminately without repercussion.
One of the main reasons so many civilians are dying is that it is becoming nearly impossible to determine what a civilian is. This is not a two-sided fight; this is an all-out brawl for control of Iraq's resources and future. In addition to the dozens of countries with soldiers illegally occupying Iraq, and the thousands of mercenaries, hit men, and soldiers-for hire working for foreign corporations exploiting Iraq, there are well-armed nationalist and religious insurgents, as well as well-organized militias loyal to specific clerics, communities, and regions. There are members of all these groups that have infiltrated the Iraqi army and police forces and the loyalty lines within these official forces are blurred beyond recognition. It is impossible to know who's on what side, and this makes for an extremely unstable climate of fear.
The climate of fear only generates more violence and militarization, as everyone needs to protect themselves from the civil war that surrounds them, and more communities form local militias that add to this deadly mix. With such a potent blend of insecurity, hatred, despair, and hopelessness, people are afraid to live their lives. Children are afraid to go to school as they can be targeted on the way or be hit in crossfire while in class. Businesses can rarely operate, and the only source of employment is through violence. Many young unemployed men join militias, insurgencies and private armies as a means of survival. It is the only form of employment that will pay them a living wage. A living wage shouldn't have to be a killing wage.
The period of American-imposed sanctions against Iraq, leading up to the start of the current war, directly resulted in over a million Iraqi civilians dying of curable diseases and starvation. Since the beginning of this war there have been an estimated 655,000 Iraqi's killed. This is genocide. The United States is committing war crimes and mass murder in Iraq as we speak, and they are accelerating the death-machine by sending another 21,500 soldiers there. More guns will not bring peace. More bullets will not bring stability. More foreign soldiers will not bring freedom. Stop the genocide on Iraq.
JAN 27 - WASHINGTON D.C. Be There, make history
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
The sanctions, bombings, invasions and occupation of Iraq has left it in ruins, there is no reconstruction being done other than oil industry related infrastructure. “Coalition” troops are not transferring power and security over to Iraq; instead they are strengthening their presence and control by sending thousands of additional soldiers to fuel the flames further. Sending more guns into a fight is never the answer.
In addition to the hundreds of thousands of soldiers that represent countries, there are tens of thousands of corporate soldiers also known as mercenaries operating in Iraq. Companies like ‘Blackwater' have more soldiers in Iraq than most coalition countries. These soldiers are not bound by any international laws and operate freely as guns for hire that use force indiscriminately without repercussion.
One of the main reasons so many civilians are dying is that it is becoming nearly impossible to determine what a civilian is. This is not a two-sided fight; this is an all-out brawl for control of Iraq's resources and future. In addition to the dozens of countries with soldiers illegally occupying Iraq, and the thousands of mercenaries, hit men, and soldiers-for hire working for foreign corporations exploiting Iraq, there are well-armed nationalist and religious insurgents, as well as well-organized militias loyal to specific clerics, communities, and regions. There are members of all these groups that have infiltrated the Iraqi army and police forces and the loyalty lines within these official forces are blurred beyond recognition. It is impossible to know who's on what side, and this makes for an extremely unstable climate of fear.
The climate of fear only generates more violence and militarization, as everyone needs to protect themselves from the civil war that surrounds them, and more communities form local militias that add to this deadly mix. With such a potent blend of insecurity, hatred, despair, and hopelessness, people are afraid to live their lives. Children are afraid to go to school as they can be targeted on the way or be hit in crossfire while in class. Businesses can rarely operate, and the only source of employment is through violence. Many young unemployed men join militias, insurgencies and private armies as a means of survival. It is the only form of employment that will pay them a living wage. A living wage shouldn't have to be a killing wage.
The period of American-imposed sanctions against Iraq, leading up to the start of the current war, directly resulted in over a million Iraqi civilians dying of curable diseases and starvation. Since the beginning of this war there have been an estimated 655,000 Iraqi's killed. This is genocide. The United States is committing war crimes and mass murder in Iraq as we speak, and they are accelerating the death-machine by sending another 21,500 soldiers there. More guns will not bring peace. More bullets will not bring stability. More foreign soldiers will not bring freedom. Stop the genocide on Iraq.
JAN 27 - WASHINGTON D.C. Be There, make history
Editorial opinions or comments expressed in this online edition of Interrobang newspaper reflect the views of the writer and are not those of the Interrobang or the Fanshawe Student Union. The Interrobang is published weekly by the Fanshawe Student Union at 1001 Fanshawe College Blvd., P.O. Box 7005, London, Ontario, N5Y 5R6 and distributed through the Fanshawe College community. Letters to the editor are welcome. All letters are subject to editing and should be emailed. All letters must be accompanied by contact information. Letters can also be submitted online by clicking here.
