Rising from the Riverbend Again
I've started this site because the original CryMeARiverbend was forced off by death threats and someone posting his name.
I don't know CMAR nor do I have any contact with him, but I'm seriously annoyed at this sort of method of deterring free speech. I think it exhibits the sort of mentality that the Iraqis and the Coalition are currently trying to root out. Just over half of Spanish voters may back down in the face of Terrorism, and (who knows) perhaps even the Americans will elect someone who promises to distance himself from the war (by putting the UN in charge). But I don't intend to.
To get things started Raed is already gloating over the squelching of CMAR by death threats. He also makes a point of congratulating those who participated in this dispicable action.
Leaving aside the irony that Raed has finally found a common enemy with the Coalition in Chalabi, his jubilation over the shutting down of the CMAR site in this fashion finally provides a hint of the sort of Mid-Eastern Paradise Iraq would be if he were in charge of the reconstruction.
I think it's time Raed had some sort of image to enhance his blog and help us all to understand what he is about.
With typical credulity, Riverbend is citing the Terrorists' declared motives for murdering Nick Berg: That it was because of the Abu Ghraib prisoner-abuse scandal. The fact that they kidnapped him before the scandal became public is something that just doesn't come up. She also says:
Which of course is why the insurgents are the only real enemies of Iraqis. Riverbend uses the word insurgents in "quotations" and then asks:
It probably was a "popular uprising" in Falujah, but it's an "insurgency" because people who are fighting for the return of a Saddam Hussein or another dictator are not fighting for the "popular" good: they are fighting for their own twisted good at the expense of their fellow citizens. She goes on:
I'm not Iraqi, but it has been reported on other Iraqi blogs that the people fighting for Muqty are street thugs who are being paid to cause trouble by the same, and that the money comes from the Iranian mullahs who bear the Iraqi people no good will. Of course, the idea that these are people fighting because they are "tired of empty promises" is laughable. The Iraqis were promised freedom of religion (which they've received), freedom of speech and association (even the Communist Party is operating openly). The Coalition promised a hand-over of the government on June 30, 2004 and that date is not likely to be missed. They were promised elections about 6 months after that,and that date hasn't been missed. So What are the empty promises???
Muqty's paper finally got shut down when it began to openly call for killing Coalition soldiers but the same would happen to a paper in the United States - you are not allowed to specifically advocate murder.
What troubles persist in Iraq are largely due to Muqty's Punqties causing trouble and the insurgents in Fallujah whom you so love. They are they ones driving away international organizations and killing people building water treatment plants. They are the ones who are blowing up oil pipelines, electrical lines, and kidnapping workers in power plants. Was the Fallujahn "popular uprising" also caused by "empty promises"?? The first "uprising" there was April 2, 2003! BEFORE the war with the Saddam regime was even over! This is the city where they had public celebrations of Saddam's birthday.
So, Riverbend, now you have your answer. That's why Muqty's thugs and the Fallujahn trouble-makers are "insurgents".
She goes on:
It is an ironic twist that the nations in the MidEast in which the governments are not openly hostile to the US, are the ones where the people hate the US (albeit the governments themselves frequently help to gin up that hatred). The ME nations where the governments are openly hostile, are the ones where the US is relatively popular (for example Iran). I'm told by Arab friends that this is because when the leaders are educated in the West and the militaries are supported by the West, the people associate their oppression with the West. This is but ONE reason why the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan were ultimately essential to good US-ME relations.
I don't know CMAR nor do I have any contact with him, but I'm seriously annoyed at this sort of method of deterring free speech. I think it exhibits the sort of mentality that the Iraqis and the Coalition are currently trying to root out. Just over half of Spanish voters may back down in the face of Terrorism, and (who knows) perhaps even the Americans will elect someone who promises to distance himself from the war (by putting the UN in charge). But I don't intend to.
To get things started Raed is already gloating over the squelching of CMAR by death threats. He also makes a point of congratulating those who participated in this dispicable action.
Loosers of the Week
ladies and gentlemen
it is my pleasure to announce the fall of two of my small enemies
:*)
The Barking dog
The Terrified ChoCho Chicken
congratulations everyone
Leaving aside the irony that Raed has finally found a common enemy with the Coalition in Chalabi, his jubilation over the shutting down of the CMAR site in this fashion finally provides a hint of the sort of Mid-Eastern Paradise Iraq would be if he were in charge of the reconstruction.
I think it's time Raed had some sort of image to enhance his blog and help us all to understand what he is about.
With typical credulity, Riverbend is citing the Terrorists' declared motives for murdering Nick Berg: That it was because of the Abu Ghraib prisoner-abuse scandal. The fact that they kidnapped him before the scandal became public is something that just doesn't come up. She also says:
Foreigners in Iraq are being very, very careful and with good reason. Many of the companies have pulled out their staff and are asking the remaining workers and contractors to be extra careful and as inconspicuous as possible.
Which of course is why the insurgents are the only real enemies of Iraqis. Riverbend uses the word insurgents in "quotations" and then asks:
So why was it an intifadhah, or popular uprising, in 1991 and now suddenly it's an insurgency? The people fighting in the streets of Najaf and Karbala aren't trained warriors or former regime members… they are simply people who are tired of empty promises and hollow assurances.
It probably was a "popular uprising" in Falujah, but it's an "insurgency" because people who are fighting for the return of a Saddam Hussein or another dictator are not fighting for the "popular" good: they are fighting for their own twisted good at the expense of their fellow citizens. She goes on:
The people fighting in the streets of Najaf and Karbala aren't trained warriors or former regime members… they are simply people who are tired of empty promises and hollow assurances.
I'm not Iraqi, but it has been reported on other Iraqi blogs that the people fighting for Muqty are street thugs who are being paid to cause trouble by the same, and that the money comes from the Iranian mullahs who bear the Iraqi people no good will. Of course, the idea that these are people fighting because they are "tired of empty promises" is laughable. The Iraqis were promised freedom of religion (which they've received), freedom of speech and association (even the Communist Party is operating openly). The Coalition promised a hand-over of the government on June 30, 2004 and that date is not likely to be missed. They were promised elections about 6 months after that,and that date hasn't been missed. So What are the empty promises???
Muqty's paper finally got shut down when it began to openly call for killing Coalition soldiers but the same would happen to a paper in the United States - you are not allowed to specifically advocate murder.
What troubles persist in Iraq are largely due to Muqty's Punqties causing trouble and the insurgents in Fallujah whom you so love. They are they ones driving away international organizations and killing people building water treatment plants. They are the ones who are blowing up oil pipelines, electrical lines, and kidnapping workers in power plants. Was the Fallujahn "popular uprising" also caused by "empty promises"?? The first "uprising" there was April 2, 2003! BEFORE the war with the Saddam regime was even over! This is the city where they had public celebrations of Saddam's birthday.
So, Riverbend, now you have your answer. That's why Muqty's thugs and the Fallujahn trouble-makers are "insurgents".
She goes on:
Ossama is from Saudi Arabia, Al Dhawahiri is Egyptian and Al Zarqawi is Jordanian. Which countries in the region are America's best allies? Let's see now… did you guess Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Egypt?! Fantastic!
It is an ironic twist that the nations in the MidEast in which the governments are not openly hostile to the US, are the ones where the people hate the US (albeit the governments themselves frequently help to gin up that hatred). The ME nations where the governments are openly hostile, are the ones where the US is relatively popular (for example Iran). I'm told by Arab friends that this is because when the leaders are educated in the West and the militaries are supported by the West, the people associate their oppression with the West. This is but ONE reason why the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan were ultimately essential to good US-ME relations.
posted by CMAR II at
1:17 PM
