Jefblog

It's interesting to see how opinions, viewpoints, etc. are formed and manipulated in our society by the media. Although blatant lies are always present, much of what becomes conventional knowledge, or "truth" is formed by what is not communicated.
The AP/Yahoo article on the execution of Saddam Hussein is a typical case in point. It gives the briefest of reviews of Saddam's life, and by leaving out certain key facts, it preserves the view of Saddam as evil dictator (which he was). It does nothing to point out US complicity in his regime, and life. Here are some examples from the article, which will no doubt be used as the final truth by some Americans who consider themselves well-informed:

It was a grim end for the 69-year-old leader who had vexed three U.S. presidents. Despite his ouster, Washington, its allies and the new Iraqi leaders remain mired in a fight to quell a stubborn insurgency by Saddam loyalists and a vicious sectarian conflict.

"who had vexed three U.S. presidents." Jeez. No mention of how one of those presidents (Bush Sr.) had truck with Saddam, and how a fourth (Reagan) U.S. president's administration dealt with Saddam and helped keep him in power. No mention of how current and former members of the current administration have been photographed smiling and shaking hands with Saddam. No mention of how the U.S. looked the other way at the time of the slaughters he has been convicted of. Nope. "Once a tyrant, always a tyrant. We've always hated him. We've been keen to get rid of his evilness for 30 years!" Right.

Here's more:

Saddam's own regime used executions and extrajudicial killings as a tool of political repression, both to eliminate real or suspected political opponents and to maintain a reign of terror.

In the months after he seized power on July 16, 1979, he had hundreds of members of his own party and army officers slain. In 1996, he ordered the slaying of two sons-in-law who had defected to Jordan but returned to Baghdad after receiving guarantees of safety.

Saddam built Iraq into a one of the Arab world's most modern societies, but then plunged the country into an eight-year war with neighboring

Iran that killed hundreds of thousands of people on both sides and wrecked Iraq's economy.

When the U.S. invaded in 2003, Iraqis had been transformed from among the region's most prosperous people to some of its most impoverished.

Boy. What's not said here is a mouthful. Well, we looked the other way when he had all those political opponents killed. We cultivated him as an ally and supplied him with arms. We encouraged and actively supported him in his war with Iran. We called him an "ally" and even a "friend". We allowed Iraq's economy to be wrecked to further our agenda with Iran.

Shouldn't that last line read "When the U.S. invaded for the second time in 2003, Iraqis had been transformed from among the region's most prosperous people to some of its most impoverished, mostly due to 10 years of U.S. sanctions and bombing that mainly affected the Iraqi people and not their ruler."?
Again, we looked the other way while he perpetrated his most heinous crimes, only getting upset when he invaded our allies, Kuwait. We did not exactly "discourage" his invasion plans, either. We even supplied him with much of the weaponry he used against his own people.

Look. He was evil. He deserved justice. He was a murderer.

However, for the U.S. to hold itself out as a savior for taking him out is hypocritical at best. We propped him up during the worst of his behavior. The fate of the Iraqi people was of little concern to the U.S. and has remained that way throughout this entire debacle. The Iraqi people are merely pawns in the game of global greed and power, to which unfortunately, all prosperous Americans are party.

Postscript:

Ironic that Pinochet's death was barely mentioned by the U.S. media. Another bastard and murderer. But he was our murderer. He never "crossed" the U.S. the way Saddam and Noriega did.
Remember Noriega? Another Bush agent who had a contract put on him, not so much for his illegal and immoral activities, but because he got uppity. Besides, it was convenient to turn on him. We needed a little war in Panama.
Chavez may be no angel himself, but he is spot on in his assessment of how the U.S. capriciously treats its so called "allies".

Hey, if you are ever in Bristol, make sure you visit the Old Duke, a pub on King Street in the city centre. The Old Duke is world famous for great jazz, blues, rock and various combinations thereof. Lots of great local bands, packed with rockin' happy people of all ages, ably run by Stu, the Old Duke is a very happening pub. I've had endless good times there, and hope for many more.
Bristol is a really great city to visit if you are ever in Merrie Olde. Right on the Severn Estuary, you get rivers, bay, ocean, the lovely green hills of Somerset, Exmoor, Glastonbury, and so much more.
It's got universities, so the town center is hopping with clubs and music. It's got money, so the dining is great. In fact, between the uni's and the bankers, Bristol has great dining for all budgets and all palates.
There's the Glass Boat, which floats in the harbor. Owned by a highly motivated Danish hippie, along with Spyglass right down the pier, Glass Boat has a wonderful and refined menu. And the ambience is worth the dinner.
Then there is Hotel du Vin. Without a doubt, this is one of the finest restaurants I have ever had the pleasure to dine in. Hotel du Vin has a wonderful, dark beamed old building as it's dining room. The food is exquisite French. The wine is superb, world class. A collector's cellar. The desserts are to die for. Please go. Now.
San Carlos is a nice Italian place, all glass and mirrors, and trendy in that Italian hip way, yet traditional in terms of service and food quality. Buon Appetito!
That myth about all food in England being bad is nonsense. There are great restaurants scattered all over England, where care is taken and cutting edge food is the norm.
Glastonbury has a great little fish and chips place right off the High Street. Across from the record store, just around the corner from the Hemp shop. Fresh fee & chee, with plaice, cod, and lots of other kinds of fishies.

JAAAAMMMEEESSS BROWN!


Excellent article on the Godfather of Funk here. Covers an engaged and controversial life. Brown was a complex figure.
Read it.

Merry Christmas! From Downtown Lucy Brown, Baby of Renown!