Denis Halliday on Iraq Re: bg

Why am I amazed? Because countries such as Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, Iran, Jordan and other Gulf countries have a humanitarian tragedy taking place in their own backyards. Terrible things are happening to their Muslim and Arab brothers and sisters in Iraq. In response, for example, a third of all money that Iraq gets as part of its Oil for Food program goes for reparation of war damages to its rich neighbours.
This from money which is clearly not enough to sustain even basic services.

There has been some criticism of the U.S. hard line against Iraq from these countries, but as you say, at this point it is ineffectual and largely symbolic.

I also seriously doubt that someone like Denis Halliday, Ramsey Clark or other people with unpopular ideas can reach the general populace in these countries. Even if they could, it is unlikely that it would translate into real, bold action by the govenments of these countries, without the blessing of the powers that be.

People are responsible for the actions of their govenments, especially in a democracy, but I believe, even in a dictatorship. True, the general populace in the Middle East is not as empowered as their American counterparts. But those who are themselves not being suppressed, and have a reasonable standard of life, and there are plenty such people in that region, can do a lot. I don`t see them doing much.

Silence is complicity, especially if the victim is your neighbour.

Denis Halliday on Iraq Good point about the complicity of the Muslims, Wasiq. The leadership and populations of those countries are as much to blame as the Americans, perhaps even more. It is quite sad and amazing though, that protests in the U.S. probably have a much greater chance of producing results than in these countries....

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