After nearly four years of letting the Bush Administration set the terms of the national debate over Iraq, some major news organizations are finally calling the conflict there what it is: a civil war. The White House is howling in protest. Here's what Matt Lauer announced on NBC's Today Show this morning: "As you know, for months now the White House has rejected claims that the situation in Iraq has deteriorated into civil war. And for the most part, news organizations, like NBC, have hesitated to characterize it as such. But, after careful consideration, NBC News has decided the change in terminology is warranted -- that the situation in Iraq, with armed militarized factions fighting for their own political agendas, can now be characterized as civil war." Here's some video of Lauer discussing the decision with retired general Barry McCaffrey.
(Minstrel Boy by Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros - Video 2:47)
Caution: Strong images.
Oh, you pitiable, puny little dismal cretins, digging around desperately for something- anything! A pack of eyeless and earless canine eager to alleviate your connivance.
You’ve bowed to the man, traded away integrity, let slip your soul, pawned your intellect, and asphyxiated legitimacy!
Read my lips: “For over two miserable years now it’s been a Goddamned civil war!”
Do you think this clears you? Your veracity it proves? Read them once more: “Not on your life!”
O! In the wake of the familiar landscape of language we’ve now but this;
The scourge-rattled thoroughfare. The bone-blunted blade. The terror-stained warfare. The narrow-minded loyalty. The red-barreled bludgeoning. The death-prattled prayer. The bursting furrowed bradawl. The blackened scream of mothers. The hate-mottled father’s glare. The soldiers’ futile anguish. The caskets draped in glory. The liars-shank inside our care.
O! In the wake of the familiar landscape of language might you need consider your own casualty?
What is a Civil War? "Objectively, it must be concluded that the disorders in Iraq do not constitute a civil war but are nearer to a politico-military struggle for power. Such struggles in Muslim countries defy resolution because Islam is irreconcilably divided over the issue of the succession to Muhammad. It might be said that Islam is in a permanent state of civil war (at least where there is a significant minority of the opposing sect) and that authority in Muslim lands can be sustained only by repression if the state takes on a religious cast, since neither Shia nor Sunni communities can concede legitimacy to their opponents."
Whatever it is or turns out to be, civil war or a politico-military struggle for power, it is a situation that the US must exit... and in rather short order!
After nearly four years of letting the Bush Administration set the terms of the national debate over Iraq, some major news organizations are finally calling the conflict there what it is: a civil war. The White House is howling in protest.
Here's what Matt Lauer announced on NBC's Today Show this morning: "As you know, for months now the White House has rejected claims that the situation in Iraq has deteriorated into civil war. And for the most part, news organizations, like NBC, have hesitated to characterize it as such. But, after careful consideration, NBC News has decided the change in terminology is warranted -- that the situation in Iraq, with armed militarized factions fighting for their own political agendas, can now be characterized as civil war." Here's some video of Lauer discussing the decision with retired general Barry McCaffrey.
Caution: Strong images.
Oh, you pitiable, puny little dismal cretins,
digging around desperately for something- anything!
A pack of eyeless and earless canine eager to alleviate your connivance.
You’ve bowed to the man,
traded away integrity,
let slip your soul,
pawned your intellect,
and asphyxiated legitimacy!
Read my lips:
“For over two miserable years now it’s been a Goddamned civil war!”
Do you think this clears you? Your veracity it proves?
Read them once more: “Not on your life!”
O! In the wake of the familiar landscape of language
we’ve now but this;
The scourge-rattled thoroughfare.
The bone-blunted blade.
The terror-stained warfare.
The narrow-minded loyalty.
The red-barreled bludgeoning.
The death-prattled prayer.
The bursting furrowed bradawl.
The blackened scream of mothers.
The hate-mottled father’s glare.
The soldiers’ futile anguish.
The caskets draped in glory.
The liars-shank inside our care.
O! In the wake of the familiar landscape of language
might you need consider your own casualty?
Copyright © 2006 mrp / thepoetryman
What is a Civil War? "Objectively, it must be concluded that the disorders in Iraq do not constitute a civil war but are nearer to a politico-military struggle for power. Such struggles in Muslim countries defy resolution because Islam is irreconcilably divided over the issue of the succession to Muhammad. It might be said that Islam is in a permanent state of civil war (at least where there is a significant minority of the opposing sect) and that authority in Muslim lands can be sustained only by repression if the state takes on a religious cast, since neither Shia nor Sunni communities can concede legitimacy to their opponents."
CIA Officers Warn of Civil War, Contradict Bush's Optimism
Civil War In Iraq?
Iraq's civil war nightmare
US senators warn of Iraq civil war
Allawi: this is the start of civil war
Majority Fear Iraq Civil War / Growing Doubt About Bush
Exclusive: Iraq—Plans in Case of a Civil War
Whatever it is or turns out to be, civil war or a politico-military struggle for power, it is a situation that the US must exit... and in rather short order!