Is the world safer now than before Iraq was invaded? Are theIraqi people happier now than before Saddam Hussein was removedfrom power?
For more than six months prior to invading Iraq, President Bushand his administration gave the image that war was inevitable toprevent Saddam from killing more people and raping more women. Weheard again and again that it was the time to liberate poor men,women and children of Iraq and put an end to their misery.
Soon after the invasion started, poor Iraqi women, men andchildren were the direct victims of thoughtless air strikes. Thehorrible pictures of killed and wounded people throughout themilitary campaign proved that their safety wasn't considered.
We can't forget the heartbreaking stories of some people wholost all their families. Ali, a 13-year-old boy, lost 19 of hisfamily members in an air raid that turned the black night intobright light. In addition, he lost both his arms and sufferedserious wounds all over his body.
April 9 marked the day of concurring Baghdad. The Iraqiscelebrated by destroying the statue of Saddam and they enjoyeddragging its parts in the streets. No wonder, since they had beenprisoners of a bloody regime for decades.
The next morning the Iraqis woke up to see their country robbedafter it was destroyed. The frenzied looting left almost nothing.Some smart TV commentators attributed looting to "the nature of theIraqis' culture."
During those chaotic moments, the Baghdad's NationalArcheological Museum was looted top to bottom. It had some of themost fabulous artifacts of human civilization. It is the wholeworld who lost those priceless objects - not only the Iraqis.
Even though invading troops were completely in control of thescene, they did nothing to stop looting because they feel it is nottheir responsibility. The staff of the Baghdad museum toldreporters that they begged the troops in the area to help againstthe looters, but could not get a detachment of soldiers assigned toprotect the site.
Well, protecting the museum was not impossible. All it wouldhave taken was a tank parked at the gate, but it didn't happen.
However, military commanders were smart enough to send theirtroops to surround the department of oil. It was claimed thatsecuring the important oil-related documents was for the good ofthe Iraqi people. Nobody believed it.
When the Taliban destroyed the two Buddhist statues inAfghanistan in 2001, the incident was strongly condemned andconsidered a disaster to human culture. At that time the Talibanwas described with tough terms like "the ignorant government thatdoesn't value civilization."
As in any major military campaign everything was consideredcarefully. Why was the Iraqi cultural heritage not taken intoaccount?
The pro-war propaganda gave the impression that the militarycampaign would take a few days only and that the Iraqis would enjoya prosperous life after Saddam. Six months after the invasion theIraqis are still suffering, more people are killed everyday andlife is getting harder.
Write to Fahad at fahad765@yahoo.com
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