An argument floating around now is that the invasion is a done deal, so we should agitate to humanize the post-war (sic) U.S. military government. This tends to give a green light to the exercise in the first place, and possibly to facilitate the next war in Iran or elsewhere. So this whole line of thought -- much in evidence among the 'soft left' -- makes me nervous.
Better perhaps to call for UN administration ASAP after 'liberation.' But nothing should impede the imperative for the U.S. military to pull back. Demanding 'Turkey, hands off Kurdistan' points to the U.S. staying in Kurdistan.
I'm open to better ideas.
mbs
Interesting piece by Aso Jeff. Look it up on the Kurdish Media homepage:
<http://come.to/kurdishmedia/>
The close:
"And now, in spite of its deep commitment to the cause of peace, the anti-war movement must put its astonishing size, diversity, and proliferation in the service of the Iraqi people, and take the next step. Its considerable humanistic impulse and organizational talent must not be allowed to wilt now that the bombs have started falling on Baghdad.
"The US administration has stated that the war on Iraq is a war of liberation, naming it 'Operation Iraqi Freedom' and the anti-war movement must gather its energies and slogans and take to the streets to hold the administration accountable.
"The movement must insist on the following:
"The US must ensure that Turkey does not threaten the Kurds and their experiment in democracy inside Iraq.
"The Iraqi Opposition program for a transition to democracy in Iraq must form the basis of any post-war government.
"Humanitarian aid will be needed immediately. The US must work with the UN to relieve the suffering and displacement that will be inevitably caused by the war.
"A post war reconstruction plan must be articulated, implemented, and followed through with full resolve.
"Now that the war has begun, it becomes a matter of outmost moral urgency to move from a position of mere opposition to war, to one of demanding that the outcome of the war be what the people in Iraq desire more than anything – and that is to be liberated and free to decide their own fate."
Noble, but has Jeff spoken to anyone from Halliburton yet?
DP