Writings: Essays
		Hidden Agendas: Oil, Iraq and the U.S.A By comparing the processes of change occurring in the United States and Iraq with that of Germany post WWI and WWII, and by looking at their comparative histories, we can gain a deeper understanding of their current social and political climate, develop a greater insight into possible causes of this climate, and consider hidden agendas that are revealed by exploring patterns of behaviour. In the aftermath of September 11 2001 similarities can be found in the policies and actions of the United States Government with that of Hitler-led Nazi Germany. In his historical ‘Freedom at War with Fear’ address to the American people in 2001 President Bush stated: “On September the 11th, enemies of freedom committed an act of war against our country… night fell on a different world, a world where freedom itself is under attack…Every nation, in every region, now has a decision to make. Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists.” (Bush: Sep 2001). Bush’s tactics to align pro-war citizens into the patriot camp, and labelling anti-war citizens as supporters of terrorism arguably echo the words spoken by Hermann Goering, Nazi leader, at the Nuremberg Trials after World War II: "Why of course the people don't want war ... But after all it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship ... Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger." (Gilbert: pp278-79) Bush has made comparisons with terrorists and Nazi Germany saying "they follow in the path of fascism, and Nazism, and totalitarianism." (Bush: Sep 2001). However, current U.S anti-terrorist tactics can be compared to Nazi Germany where “the state had the power to arrest anyone…without due process of law (and) trials before the “People’s Court” were conducted in secret, owing to “national security” concerns…” (Hornberger: 2003).  On October 26 2001, the US Administration passed the Patriot Act, parts of which according to the American Civil Liberties Union “take away checks on law enforcement and take away the very rights and freedoms that we are struggling to protect.” (ACLU Online: 2001). The Patriot Act allows the government to place civilians under surveillance, or detain citizens without charges being laid, if the government says they are suspected of terrorism. A year on from September 11, the ACLU were investigating the detention of 1200 people. “Virtually all were Arab, South Asian or Muslim…all but a few hundred are now believed to have been deported on immigration charges or been allowed to leave voluntarily.” (ACLU Report: 4). This echoes Hitler's persecution of the Jews during WWII. The Act also gives the government permission to search the records of any U.S citizen without their knowledge or consent, as long as the government says their purpose is “an authorized investigation…to protect against international terrorism.” (The Patriot Act: Section 215). The Act is to many a way to “expand government powers and allow it to spy on ordinary citizens in new ways.” (Lithwick & Turner: 2003). Ironically, during his 'Freedom at War with Fear' address Bush declared: “The advance of human freedom…now depends on us.” (Bush: Sep 2001).  These current anti-terrorist tactics can be compared with those used over 80 years ago in the United States against Bolsheviks. Under the orders of Attorney General A. Mitchell Palmer The Palmer Raids as they became known “rained terror on immigrant communities throughout the U.S…Hundreds of Eastern European immigrants were deported without due process…then as now, Americans were asked to give up some freedoms for the sake of law and order.” (ACLU Report: 3). Comparisons can also be made with the re-building of Iraq and the re-building of post-World War I Germany when "winners of the war attempted to create the most progressive and democratic political system in Germany." (Igoshin:2003). Bush has said "the new Iraqi regime would be a bright and inspiring example of freedom for other nations of the terrain." (Igoshin: 2003). However if we are to learn from experience people do not naturally embrace systems imposed on them by external forces. Winston Churchill said the Allies "imposed every liberal ideal to the Germans...(which turned into) an idiotic mess that took so much effort and energy." (Igoshin:2003). The new republic did not win the hearts of the German people, not necessarily because it wasn't workable but because "it was perceived as something that was imposed by the enemy." (Igoshin:2003). As a result the way was made open for Hitler to take leadership of his country leading to "the most horrid disaster in the history of mankind." (Igoshin:2003) The US Administration "compares Iraq to 1945 Germany" (Vann:2003) when Germany was re-built to embrace "democratic values" (Igoshin:2003). The US Administration are attempting to sell the Iraqi and global public on the idea that they are in Iraq to free the people from a terrible dictator, just as the World War II Alliance freed the world from Hitler. In President Bush's Message to the Iraqi people he said "We will end a brutal regime whose aggression and weapons of mass destruction make it a unique threat to the world...coalition forces will help maintain law and order...the nightmare that Saddam Hussein brought to your nation will soon be over." (Bush: Apr 2003). Since the war on Iraq began it is estimated that "between 21,000 and 55,000 people have died as a result of the US-led invasion." (Lobe:2003). However without offical body counts "the final toll may never be known" (MedAct Report). Iraq Body Count estimates the number of civilians wounded and injured to be around 20,000. Death and injuries have continued despite the capture of Saddam Hussein in December 2003 and "are likely to be under-reported" according to the Mines Advisory Group (Lobe:2003). Weapons of mass destruction are yet to be found. Bush also promised that "A long era of fear and cruelty is ending...you deserve better than tyranny and corruption and torture chambers." (Bush: Apr 2003). However, the United States Military now seem to be inflicting the kind of torture they are apparently there to get rid of. Amnesty International investigations of "human rights violations including allegations of torture and ill-treatment of detainees by Coalition forces" have recently come to public light. (Amnesty International). On 7 May 2004 Amnesty International wrote an open letter to President Bush saying that "the abuses allegedly committed by US Agents in the Abu Ghraib facility in Baghdad were war crimes." (Amnesty International) The US Administration claim that "the 'Coalition Provisional Authority' is a temporary administration designed to organize a transition to Iraqi self-rule" (Vann: 2003). However many people are sceptical of both the US's agenda, and their promises for a democratic handover. Many believe that the US is merely creating yet another puppet regime where "the misnamed Iraqi Governing Council, consisting of Pentagon-trained exiles and Quisling politicians recruited by the US, has served as nothing more than an “Iraqi face” for foreign occupation." (Vann: 2003). Bob Djurdjevic, founder of Truth in Media.Org believes the US have a foreign policy that runs along the lines of “First destroy them, then take over and rebuild them”. (Djurdjevic: Feb 1998). He writes: "The new world order exports a neo-colonialism under the guise of democracy and nation-building.” (Djurdjevic: Feb 1998). He views the US and its “New World Order” allies as “industrial-financial elite enriching themselves on the backs of other fellow-humans’ pain and suffering.” (Djurdjevic: Feb 1998).  When looking at the history of the United States, and their interventions in other countries, they seem to have a tendency to over-ride the wishes of the people of that country. Their pattern has been to portray themselves as bringers of freedom and democracy, whilst their actions indicate that they are modern-day colonialists with ulterior motives and agendas, arguably based on profiteering and power.  In the 1950’s in Iran the US helped depose a democratically elected government that was threatening western oil profits. In the 1970’s CIA operatives helped overthrow a democratically elected leader in Chile, creating the Chilean people’s long nightmare of Pinochet’s rule. In 1998 NATO helped usher in newly “elected” Bosnian Serb Prime Minister Milorad Dodik, ‘whose party had won only 2 out of the 83 seats in the Bosnian Serb Republic’s parliament’ in elections allegedly engineered by NATO. Meanwhile disenfranchising ‘60% of the electorate’ who had voted for the two Serbian nationalist parties. (Djurdjevic: Feb 1998).  Iraqi people and their religious leaders are understandably reluctant to make the US forces welcome. They have made repeated calls, whether by verbal demands or physical violence, for the US to leave and clearly see it as an invasion. Ahmed Al-Kubaisi, a leading Sunni Muslim cleric, "accused the US of crushing Iraq on Israel’s behalf and denounced the American military occupation as illegal." (Conachy: 2003). Sheikh Sheikh Kaazem al-Abahadi al-Nasari a leading Shi'ite stated: “We reject this foreign occupation, which is a new imperialism. We don’t want it anymore. We don’t need the Americans. They’re here to control our oil. They’re unbelievers, but as for us, we have the power of faith.” (Conachy: 2003) South Africa's Nelson Mandela agrees that US policy "is motivated by George W Bush's desire to please the arms and oil industries." (White 2003).  White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer has denied to US Journalists that the projected war had anything to do with oil, saying "This is not about that... The oil fields belong to the people of Iraq, the government of Iraq, all of Iraq. All the resources...of Iraq need to be administered by the Iraqi government." (Fleischer: 2003). However many people sceptical of the real reasons behind the Iraq war still believe that amongst many possible agendas, a primary motive is control over the lucrative oil fields. "It is likely that a U.S.-controlled Iraq will be the lynchpin of a new order in the world oil industry." (Renner: 2003) Since taking office, President Bush and Vice-President Cheney have assembled a government "peopled heavily with representatives from the oil culture they came from." (Renner: 2003). Secretary of the Army Thomas White is a former President of Enron, and Secretary of Commerce Don Evans is former President of the oil exploration company Tom Brown inc (Renner: 2003). A May 2001 Report by the National Energy Policy Development Group states that "U.S oil production will fall 12% over the next 20 years. As a result, U.S dependence on imported oil ...is set to climb to two-thirds by 2020...whilst US oil consumption is projected to increase by one-third over the next two decades." (Renner: 2003). The US are the biggest consumers of oil in the world. The Report states that Persian Gulf producers are the biggest oil providers and "will supply 54-67% of world oil exports in 2020." (Remmer: 2003).  Iraq has "abundant, high-quality oil that can be produced at very low cost (and thus at great profit). At 112 billion barrels, its proven reserves are currently second only to Saudi  Arabia's." (Remmer: 2003). According to The Energy Information Administration (EIA) of the U.S. Department of Energy "additional probable and possible resources could amount to 220 billion barrels." There is also a chance that Iraq's oil wealth may rival that of Saudi Arabia's (300 billion barrels). "Political instability, war, and sanctions have prevented thorough exploration of substantial portions of Iraqi territory, there is a chance that another 100 billion barrels lie undiscovered in Iraq’s western desert." (Remmer: 2003). Military spending by the American government has now risen to $US435 billion dollars a year. According to defence experts, "20 per cent goes towards defending oil reserves" (White: 2004). Coincidentally, or not, "the US maintains a presence in almost every country that either has oil or borders an oil producing nation." (White: 2004). Regime change in Iraq would ensure that the United States would have "direct access to Iraqi oil...a windfall worth hundreds of billions of dollars." (Renner: 2003). Religion is also playing a large role in the processes of change occurring in the United States and Iraq with both Bush and Hussein making multiple religious references in speeches related to the rightness of their cause. This can be compared to the angle taken by Hitler. In Mein Kampf Hitler wrote "I believe to-day that my conduct is in accordance with the will of the Almighty Creator. In standing guard against the Jew I am defending the handiwork of the Lord." (Hitler: 46) In 1938 he said similar words during a speech in Reichstag.  This can be compared with the speeches President Bush has given post September 11. According to Bush there is no doubt God is on the side of the U.S with his constant "God Bless America" spiel, and that it his divine mission to expel Saddam, bin Laden and terrorists who are all supposedly on the side of evil. During a prayer service in 2001 he said, "Our responsibility to history is already clear. To answer these attacks and rid the world of evil." (Driscoll: 2003) In his 'Freedom at War with Fear" address he said "Freedom and fear, justice and cruelty, have always been at war, and we know that God is not neutral between them." (Bush: Sep 2001). He also tells Americans to be "assured of the rightness of our cause...may God grant us wisdom, and may He watch over the United States of America." (Bush: Sep 2001) Hussein has also used religion as propaganda. In a televised address he "mentioned 'God' 28 times, 'jihad,' or holy war, seven times, and the word 'faithful' four times." (Driscoll: 2003). Hussein also believes that God is on his side. During the address he said " "Those who are believers will be victorious,", described his troops as "God's soldiers," cited verses from the Quran and shouted Islam's rallying cry of "Allahu akbar!" or "God is Great!" (Driscoll: 2003).  All of these leaders have been criticised for their warped use of religion to justify their actions, particularly when they are seen to not be following the true ideals of those religions. Daniel Chirot, professor at the University of Washington of International Studies, has said of Saddam and his group of leaders "their way of life was opposite of what many really religious Muslims would do." (Driscoll: 2003). When it suits him Saddam has also taken action to "suppress religion" particularly the Shiite Muslims who are the majority in Iraq. (Driscoll: 2003). Meanwhile, "Pope John Paul II has urged Bush to quit evoking God's name to justify war" (Driscoll: 2003). Members of the Islamic faith have said that they "find Bush's use of the word crusade troubling." (Driscoll: 2003). When looking at current processes of change occurring in Iraq and the United States, and comparing them to the history of Germany and past United States behaviour, we uncover disturbing similarities and hidden agendas. Under the guise of protecting freedom and democracy and acting on the side of religious righteousness, leaders have actually taken freedoms, waged terrorism on selected ethnic groups, acted like modern-day colonialists and made a mockery of the true values of religion. As a society we are learning to question the agendas of governments and leaders, and uncovering their true goals – which seem to be about gaining power and control over as many people and nations as possible whilst exterminating anything that lies in their way. Bibliography American Civil Liberties Union, Civil Liberties after 9/11, A Historical Perspective on Protecting Liberty in times of Crisis, American Civil Liberties Union Foundation Report, New York USA, September 2002 http://www.aclu.org Amnesty International, 'Iraq: Amnesty International reveals a pattern of torture and ill-treatment', May 2004 Appeals for Action, http://web.amnesty.org/pages/irq-torture-eng Anti-War.Com, Casualties, http://www.antiwar.com Bush, G.W President, "President's Message to the Iraqi People", Office of the Press Secretary, The White House, Washington D.C USA, April 10 2003 http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/04/ 20030410-2.html Bush, G.W President, ‘Freedom at War with Fear’ Address to a Joint Session of Congress and the American People, Office of the Press Secretary, The White House, Washington D.C USA, September 20 2001 http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/09/ 20010920-8.html Conachy, J, "Iraqis demand end to American occupation", World Socialist Website, International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI), 19 April 2003, http://www.wsws.org/articles/2003/apr2003/iraq-a19.shtml Department of Justice, Text of The Patriot Act, US Congress, The White House, Washington D.C USA, October 26 2001 http://www.lifeandliberty.gov Djurdjevic, B, 'Profiting From The Game of Nation Building', The Washington Times, Washington, Arizona February 1 1998, www.truthinmedia.org Driscoll, E., Keene, J., Lemm, T., & Ratna, L., Faith and War, Religion Beat, The Iraq Journalism Project, April 30 2003 http://courses.washington.edu/com361/Iraq/religion/ faith_war.html Fleischer, A, Press Briefing by Ari Fleischer, The White House, Washington D.C USA February 6 2003 http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/02/ 20030206-13.html Gilbert, G.M. 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