Comments on: Iraq memory hole http://deepblade.net/journal/2005/03/iraq-memory-hole.html Cutting through the effects of the US empire Sun, 07 Sep 2008 23:50:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Wallsy http://deepblade.net/journal/2005/03/iraq-memory-hole.html#comment-259 Wallsy Sat, 26 Mar 2005 14:25:32 +0000 http://deepblade.net/journal/2005/03/iraq-memory-hole.html#comment-259 I had actually listened to the DemocracyNow piece at the time but on listening to it again I found the cliams of Steven Pellitierre (correct spelling?) quite revealing. He was in effect admitting to the "tilt" towards Iraq at the time and even admitted that oil was an issue in all of this. However, he was trying to play down US complicity in this by claiming that this was a war of sorts and that, well, there's always collateral damage in war. Cynical and crass. He even tried to play down the US complicty aspect, in the face of abundant evidence, by attempting to place the blame of the gassings at Halabja on the Iranians. WHere is the evidence of the IRanians using chemical weapons at Halabja in that case? And even if they did use chemical weapons who supplied them with them? Well, as you've probably discovered beforehand, the US was playing a classic imperial game of divide and conquer at the time so whatever way Mr Pellitere cares to paint it US complicity in the suffering and death of civilians and soldiers alike is crytstal clear. Let's hope that Geoffrey's evidence sheds more light on this by entering the public discourse. I had actually listened to the DemocracyNow piece at the time but on listening to it again I found the cliams of Steven Pellitierre (correct spelling?) quite revealing. He was in effect admitting to the “tilt” towards Iraq at the time and even admitted that oil was an issue in all of this. However, he was trying to play down US complicity in this by claiming that this was a war of sorts and that, well, there’s always collateral damage in war. Cynical and crass. He even tried to play down the US complicty aspect, in the face of abundant evidence, by attempting to place the blame of the gassings at Halabja on the Iranians. WHere is the evidence of the IRanians using chemical weapons at Halabja in that case? And even if they did use chemical weapons who supplied them with them? Well, as you’ve probably discovered beforehand, the US was playing a classic imperial game of divide and conquer at the time so whatever way Mr Pellitere cares to paint it US complicity in the suffering and death of civilians and soldiers alike is crytstal clear. Let’s hope that Geoffrey’s evidence sheds more light on this by entering the public discourse.

]]> By: Wallsy http://deepblade.net/journal/2005/03/iraq-memory-hole.html#comment-260 Wallsy Sat, 26 Mar 2005 12:10:51 +0000 http://deepblade.net/journal/2005/03/iraq-memory-hole.html#comment-260 Thank you again Deep. I've been digging around for the last 20 minutes in the sources you provided. Phew!!! Thank you again Deep. I’ve been digging around for the last 20 minutes in the sources you provided. Phew!!!

]]> By: Wallsy http://deepblade.net/journal/2005/03/iraq-memory-hole.html#comment-261 Wallsy Sat, 26 Mar 2005 12:03:02 +0000 http://deepblade.net/journal/2005/03/iraq-memory-hole.html#comment-261 Thanks very much Deep. You're right, poking around in news archives is a very good idea. I will also check out John Stauber's sources too; always good to have a primary source where possible or, failing that, good corroboration. Cheers mate Thanks very much Deep. You’re right, poking around in news archives is a very good idea. I will also check out John Stauber’s sources too; always good to have a primary source where possible or, failing that, good corroboration.

Cheers mate

]]> By: Deep Blade http://deepblade.net/journal/2005/03/iraq-memory-hole.html#comment-262 Deep Blade Sat, 26 Mar 2005 11:40:00 +0000 http://deepblade.net/journal/2005/03/iraq-memory-hole.html#comment-262 Wallsy, I poked around for a good reference on Powell's pro-Saddam role in 1988. This is from an interview with one of the guys from PR Watch, John Stauber: "...And after the gassing of civilians in Halubjah, there was a bipartisan effort to try to pass the 1988 prevention of genocide act. That act was killed by Colin Powell, who was Ronald ReaganÂ’s secretary of—or was Ronald ReaganÂ’s national security advisor, and he led the effort to kill the prevention of genocide act introduced after Halubjah. I mean, chemical Ali, who weÂ’re hearing so much about, was essentially our ally during that time. And if history were truthfully told, we would probably be referring to Colin Powell as chemical Colin..." This ran on <a href="http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=03/09/29/155243&mode=thread&tid=22">Democracy Now for 29.Sep.2003</a>. I have some more links and a chronology <a href="http://deepblade.net/archive/Iraq_chron.htm">here</a>. It might be a good project to poke around newspaper archives to see if there was a contemporaneous story. Wallsy, I poked around for a good reference on Powell’s pro-Saddam role in 1988. This is from an interview with one of the guys from PR Watch, John Stauber:

“…And after the gassing of civilians in Halubjah, there was a bipartisan effort to try to pass the 1988 prevention of genocide act. That act was killed by Colin Powell, who was Ronald ReaganÂ’s secretary of—or was Ronald ReaganÂ’s national security advisor, and he led the effort to kill the prevention of genocide act introduced after Halubjah. I mean, chemical Ali, who weÂ’re hearing so much about, was essentially our ally during that time. And if history were truthfully told, we would probably be referring to Colin Powell as chemical Colin…”

This ran on Democracy Now for 29.Sep.2003.

I have some more links and a chronology here.

It might be a good project to poke around newspaper archives to see if there was a contemporaneous story.

]]> By: Wallsy http://deepblade.net/journal/2005/03/iraq-memory-hole.html#comment-256 Wallsy Fri, 25 Mar 2005 19:51:39 +0000 http://deepblade.net/journal/2005/03/iraq-memory-hole.html#comment-256 "He was White House point man for crushing the Prevention of Genocide Act in 1988." Thanks for that DeepBlade. Could you tell me where you dug this up? I've been digging around without success. I am actually in the process of writing a thesis proposal (have been for ages actually) and I'm trying to confirm and catalogue all of my sources so as to avoid any stupid questions at a later seminar (you know how tedious it can get). My working title is "Framing Military Power: the hazards of peace, freedom and democracy". I may change it at a later date, hmm. Sorry, I don't know your cousin I'm afraid. Where in Sweden does she live incidentally? I do know a Marjalissa who I used to work with, hmmm. “He was White House point man for crushing the Prevention of Genocide Act in 1988.”

Thanks for that DeepBlade. Could you tell me where you dug this up? I’ve been digging around without success.

I am actually in the process of writing a thesis proposal (have been for ages actually) and I’m trying to confirm and catalogue all of my sources so as to avoid any stupid questions at a later seminar (you know how tedious it can get). My working title is “Framing Military Power: the hazards of peace, freedom and democracy”. I may change it at a later date, hmm.

Sorry, I don’t know your cousin I’m afraid. Where in Sweden does she live incidentally? I do know a Marjalissa who I used to work with, hmmm.

]]> By: Deep Blade http://deepblade.net/journal/2005/03/iraq-memory-hole.html#comment-258 Deep Blade Fri, 25 Mar 2005 18:19:54 +0000 http://deepblade.net/journal/2005/03/iraq-memory-hole.html#comment-258 Hi Wallsy. Thought so, unless you knew my cousin, Marjaliisa, who is Finnish but also lives in Sweden. Powell was National Security Adviser in 1988. He was very close to and former aide of Cap Weinberger, then well known for supporting the ``tilt toward Iraq''. Powell was thought to be instrumental is seeing to Saddam's helicopter purchases. He was White House point man for crushing the Prevention of Genocide Act in 1988. Hi Wallsy. Thought so, unless you knew my cousin, Marjaliisa, who is Finnish but also lives in Sweden.

Powell was National Security Adviser in 1988. He was very close to and former aide of Cap Weinberger, then well known for supporting the “tilt toward Iraq”. Powell was thought to be instrumental is seeing to Saddam’s helicopter purchases. He was White House point man for crushing the Prevention of Genocide Act in 1988.

]]> By: Wallsy http://deepblade.net/journal/2005/03/iraq-memory-hole.html#comment-257 Wallsy Fri, 25 Mar 2005 12:20:17 +0000 http://deepblade.net/journal/2005/03/iraq-memory-hole.html#comment-257 Hi DeepBlade, I am actually a friend of Geoffrey's and he has sent me updates on developments pertaining to the EDM since the days we used to discuss on the Brightonandhove website (ask Geoff himself for more info). I would just like to add something to the Reagnaite opposition to the Senate's Prevention of Genocide Act back in 1988 (same year as Halabja anfal). I have read that it was in fact Colin Powell who expressly opposed the act. I will have to dig around a bit to find the source, however. Three cheers for Geoffrey, hip hip... Hi DeepBlade,

I am actually a friend of Geoffrey’s and he has sent me updates on developments pertaining to the EDM since the days we used to discuss on the Brightonandhove website (ask Geoff himself for more info).

I would just like to add something to the Reagnaite opposition to the Senate’s Prevention of Genocide Act back in 1988 (same year as Halabja anfal). I have read that it was in fact Colin Powell who expressly opposed the act. I will have to dig around a bit to find the source, however.

Three cheers for Geoffrey, hip hip…

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