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misscamSheesh - they're all like vultures circling, aren't they? US, Britain, France, Germany, Turkey...
The New US
Iraq's suffering still goes on
and
US responsibility
I quote:
Despite appearances, the present situation is not a "legal vacuum". The forces of the USA and UK, as occupying powers under international law, have clear obligations to protect the Iraqi population. These obligations derive from international humanitarian law, which has long defined the rules on belligerent occupation, complemented by human rights law, which binds any state exercising jurisdiction or control over a territory. The USA and UK must fulfil their obligations and continue to do so for as long as they exercise military authority over Iraq.
In other words - the looting *is* US responsibility to stop. The US may have gone in to Iraq for all the best reasons in the world from their viewpoint (there are those who disagree, but that's another debate which I have discussed befoore), but it does not change that they stood by and protected the Ministry of Oil while hospitals were looted and smashed and an entire past was stolen. If they want to prove they come to Iraq to give something better, that's not a good message to send.
Oh, and yes, the missing artifacts? It is a big deal. Sentiments like 'well, we saved many people's lives, who cares about some artifacts?' - *groans* This is a tragedy
I quote:
While Iraqis have started returning a handful of items, researchers believe that more than 70,000 museum pieces could be missing.
Scholars also worry about the fate of tens of thousands of clay tablets that contain some of the earliest written language, and of early manuscripts lost when Iraqi libraries were burned in the looting. The written material may be even more valuable than the jewels and pottery, they said.
"(It appears) the range of documentation is from the most mundane economic records to the most important philosophic, literary, scientific and religious documents that exist," said Pittman who, like Zettler, has conducted research in Iraq. "There are manuscripts that have not been studied that are unique, so it's like losing Plato or Aristotle." (...)
"What people are having trouble understanding is, it's not just things," said Jane Waldbaum, president of the Archaeological Institute of America. "Taken together, this is the totality of the cultural heritage of the people who lived in that country.
"If you were to burn down the Smithsonian Institute and smash the Liberty Bell and tear up or burn the original copy of the Declaration or Independence or Constitution, how would Americans feel about that?" Waldbaum said.
I think she said it better than me.
Arab sentiments. I guess this is what some calls 'ungrateful'.
I quote:
Freedom is not just about being able to express your views without fear," says Ahmad Madali, a thoughtful young man who approaches me in the Kadhimiya mosque.
"Freedom is about action, about using our own resources for the benefit of our people. And we are concerned that the Americans have not just come to rid us of the terror of Saddam Hussein, but for their own interests as well." (...)
A block away, a column of American army vehicles gets a warm reception in the Kadhimiya market, receiving smiles, thumbs up and handshakes as they pass through the crowds.
The question is, without security and basic amenities, how long will that goodwill last among the Shia? Among the Sunnis, it seems to have gone already.
*shakes head* I've begun to more seriously consider my plans to join the Red Cross for a year and go out in the world. I've always wanted to do it. But there's so much suffering, so much to do... where to start... There's:
Sierra Leone
Zimbabwe
Irvory Coast
Pakistan
North Korea
China
Colombia & here
Paraguay
Russia
Turkmenistan
Palestine/Israel
Afghanistan & here
I quote:
There is evidence that those who speak out in Afghanistan face intimidation, arbitrary arrest, and violence from both government and non-government actors. The international community should raise such cases with the Afghan authorities and challenge any infringements of the right to freedom of expression, including legal limitations on press freedoms.
And this is now, *after* the US removed the Taliban.
And my greatest fear - for Iraq, as well as other places - is that all we try to do for good, may just make matters worse. History is full of examples of it. And we can never help everyone. Who do we choose? Is the plight of the Iraqis somehow worth more than the plight of the Tibetians? The Palestinians?
Funny how I have more and more questions the more I learn, instead of more answers.
Intersting. The world is changing, isn't it? And Norway has frozen decisions on Iraqi asylum claims? Buggeristic. Feh. Shame on us. We've always been good at taking emergency refugees and refugee requests from the UN, but we're very, very bad at allowing them to stay beyond a few years. For shame, Norway! *rants at own goverment for a long time*
Ahem... Excuse me for a moment...I'm going to exercise my freedom to insult the current government in Norway for a bit. (And pro-war people, if you really want freedom in Iraq, they have a right to insult the US and be 'ungrateful' (feh. They've suffered for 20 years. They tried to rise up in 1991, and American troops stood by as Iraq military crushed it. 'Ungrateful'? Feh). Freedom of expression. Bare it and grin, or look like hypocrits)
The New US
Iraq's suffering still goes on
and
US responsibility
I quote:
Despite appearances, the present situation is not a "legal vacuum". The forces of the USA and UK, as occupying powers under international law, have clear obligations to protect the Iraqi population. These obligations derive from international humanitarian law, which has long defined the rules on belligerent occupation, complemented by human rights law, which binds any state exercising jurisdiction or control over a territory. The USA and UK must fulfil their obligations and continue to do so for as long as they exercise military authority over Iraq.
In other words - the looting *is* US responsibility to stop. The US may have gone in to Iraq for all the best reasons in the world from their viewpoint (there are those who disagree, but that's another debate which I have discussed befoore), but it does not change that they stood by and protected the Ministry of Oil while hospitals were looted and smashed and an entire past was stolen. If they want to prove they come to Iraq to give something better, that's not a good message to send.
Oh, and yes, the missing artifacts? It is a big deal. Sentiments like 'well, we saved many people's lives, who cares about some artifacts?' - *groans* This is a tragedy
I quote:
While Iraqis have started returning a handful of items, researchers believe that more than 70,000 museum pieces could be missing.
Scholars also worry about the fate of tens of thousands of clay tablets that contain some of the earliest written language, and of early manuscripts lost when Iraqi libraries were burned in the looting. The written material may be even more valuable than the jewels and pottery, they said.
"(It appears) the range of documentation is from the most mundane economic records to the most important philosophic, literary, scientific and religious documents that exist," said Pittman who, like Zettler, has conducted research in Iraq. "There are manuscripts that have not been studied that are unique, so it's like losing Plato or Aristotle." (...)
"What people are having trouble understanding is, it's not just things," said Jane Waldbaum, president of the Archaeological Institute of America. "Taken together, this is the totality of the cultural heritage of the people who lived in that country.
"If you were to burn down the Smithsonian Institute and smash the Liberty Bell and tear up or burn the original copy of the Declaration or Independence or Constitution, how would Americans feel about that?" Waldbaum said.
I think she said it better than me.
Arab sentiments. I guess this is what some calls 'ungrateful'.
I quote:
Freedom is not just about being able to express your views without fear," says Ahmad Madali, a thoughtful young man who approaches me in the Kadhimiya mosque.
"Freedom is about action, about using our own resources for the benefit of our people. And we are concerned that the Americans have not just come to rid us of the terror of Saddam Hussein, but for their own interests as well." (...)
A block away, a column of American army vehicles gets a warm reception in the Kadhimiya market, receiving smiles, thumbs up and handshakes as they pass through the crowds.
The question is, without security and basic amenities, how long will that goodwill last among the Shia? Among the Sunnis, it seems to have gone already.
*shakes head* I've begun to more seriously consider my plans to join the Red Cross for a year and go out in the world. I've always wanted to do it. But there's so much suffering, so much to do... where to start... There's:
Sierra Leone
Zimbabwe
Irvory Coast
Pakistan
North Korea
China
Colombia & here
Paraguay
Russia
Turkmenistan
Palestine/Israel
Afghanistan & here
I quote:
There is evidence that those who speak out in Afghanistan face intimidation, arbitrary arrest, and violence from both government and non-government actors. The international community should raise such cases with the Afghan authorities and challenge any infringements of the right to freedom of expression, including legal limitations on press freedoms.
And this is now, *after* the US removed the Taliban.
And my greatest fear - for Iraq, as well as other places - is that all we try to do for good, may just make matters worse. History is full of examples of it. And we can never help everyone. Who do we choose? Is the plight of the Iraqis somehow worth more than the plight of the Tibetians? The Palestinians?
Funny how I have more and more questions the more I learn, instead of more answers.
Intersting. The world is changing, isn't it? And Norway has frozen decisions on Iraqi asylum claims? Buggeristic. Feh. Shame on us. We've always been good at taking emergency refugees and refugee requests from the UN, but we're very, very bad at allowing them to stay beyond a few years. For shame, Norway! *rants at own goverment for a long time*
Ahem... Excuse me for a moment...I'm going to exercise my freedom to insult the current government in Norway for a bit. (And pro-war people, if you really want freedom in Iraq, they have a right to insult the US and be 'ungrateful' (feh. They've suffered for 20 years. They tried to rise up in 1991, and American troops stood by as Iraq military crushed it. 'Ungrateful'? Feh). Freedom of expression. Bare it and grin, or look like hypocrits)
