Red Blogule to the New Lie - France was not against a war on Iraq (if all other options failed)

Archives 20040829 (see blogules 2004)

GWB on CNN's Larry King Live : "this debate on coalitions is a very interesting debate. Sometimes I think they're basically saying that there is no such thing as a coalition unless the French are involved. But the truth of the matter is, the French are involved in Afghanistan, and the French have been involved in Haiti. The French government just didn't agree with the decision to remove Saddam Hussein from power. And, therefore, there was a difference of opinion on that issue."

A Frenchman, I cannot accept this lie : the issue was not about removing Saddam from power but about starting a war with a wrong motive, without any propper peace strategy, but with a clear and immediate danger of fueling terrorism across the planet in general and BRINGING it to Iraq in particular. The war in Afghanistan was completely linked to the war on terror. Too bad Mr Bush used this token for an illegal wild ride, forgetting to finish the job where it mattered : instead of financing what was planned there, he's asking for more billions to cover up his mess in Baghdad. Afghanistan is back to drug mass production, insecurity, corruption and intolerance. Dismission accomplished.

Bush should remember the position of the French government : they were not against a war on Iraq, but only if all other options failed. War isn't only a matter of boys using toys and friends getting contracts. The decision of going to war should not be left into the hands of this man.

SM on a forum

Red Blogule to the Israel Factor in the US

Archives 20040711 (see blogules 2004)

(discussion on the impossibility of raising Israel-Palestine issues during the campaign)

Indeed, criticizing Israel is a no / no in the US. Listening to Clinton on CNN yesterday, I was once more disappointed by the mildness of his criticism. Off course he's still competing to become the US' "First Male First Lady" and cannot fully spill his beans. He cannot imagine any solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict outside of the Israel-Palestine-US triangle, even if only the UN could provide an independant and (west ?) bankable background.

The relationship between the US and Israel is not sane and has no equivalent in History. On one hand Israel seems a US protectorate, on the other hand Israel holds a firm grip on US politics and media. And it goes beyond the Rep-Dem barrier. The ties with Saudi Arabia are not very sane either but can easily be summed up in such units as currencies or gallons.

SM on a forum

Red Blogule to the bombing of Fallujah - Bombing, for image's sake - Bush is only targeting the US audience

20040429 (see blogules 2004)

Bush doesn't want the US audience to watch actual images of actual bodies covering the actual ground (especially those of American citizens - he never took into consideration the thousands of dead Irakis).

So CNN can move back to their video war : infrared features, no close-ups, just the sound of air strikes from a far distance, animations of up-to-date aircrafts exposing their Weapons of Mass Distraction, and the "Live" label in one corner of the screen to have people stay tuned around the clock to this excuse for a war.

Once again, covering up the mess. You may be embedded in our squads but please do not wake our citizens up. Get them the Valium we're prescribing but do not mention the side effects (or is it collateral damage ?). No pictures of coffins, thanks.

Of course this doesn't help the US forces in Iraq : they look even more remote from the population. Cut out from the country but deep into it at the same time. Hostages in a stubborn, dangerous man's reelection show.

Smile to the camera, son. Who knows, you may be in BC04's next ad.

SM on a forum