The Shadow Of The Gallows

So, they finally got around to condemning Saddam to death. After months of wrangling and shouting, the much anticipated death sentence has been handed down, despite serious questions about the legitimacy of the court which tried him.

Now, don't get me wrong - I have no time for this numbskull, and I will shed not a tear for him when he hangs. Indeed, I was protesting against Saddam twenty years ago, at a time when the US was supporting and arming him.

However, it is interesting to reflect that a lot of what he says is perfectly correct: this is a kangaroo court with no real legitimacy, he remains the president of Iraq - despite the illegal occupation of his country and the verdict was such a forgone conclusion that it is hard to imagine him getting a fair trial. To be tried by your peers is bad enough, but to be tried by your enemies is a very bad thing indeed. And probably not the best way to ensure that due process is observed.

Again - to be clear - I abhor Saddam, and will shed not a single tear when he dies. But if the occupiers want to string him up they should just do so. What sickens me is the shabby facsimile of a court hearing that we have (sort of) witnessed. I think the US administration has reached a point where it no longer matters how wafer thin the pretence is, they know that they are playing only to their supporters. Those who oppose them will oppose them in any case.

I suppose that this bogus trial will go down as just another footnote in the history, that will one day be written, of this awful and stupid middle-east adventure.

Methinks that 100 years from now, sooner probably, Bush will be looked upon as a turning-point president. The one who turned the world against America. And turned America's back on the world.

A Bit Too Close To Home

I was looking at me hull earlier tonight, as the old girl bobbed and lurched with the motion of the briney. I thought I spied something amiss with her, but it was only a patch where the water left an unusual mark last time I was in port. Over the years I have had all manner of things bump and bang into the side of my little boat - they rarely do any harm, and if they do it is easy to put right.

Y'see, the sea isn't the natural enemy of the boat or the sailor. She is our friend, our protector, our reason for being. And although many's the man and boy that has lost his life to her, sailors are generally very affectionate towards "the big pond." And, although she sometimes carries things which harm, she carries us too. After a few years at sea, a man gets kinda used to her sweet embrace and cannot feel utterly calm anywhere else. I, for one, never get a solid eight hours minus the sway of the ocean.

Sailors have good hearts, by and large, and this leads them to love and respect the potentially lethal waters on which they sail. But we are a superstitious lot too - always fretting over inauspicious omens like dreading the appearance of a black cat on the dock afore we ship out. But in reality we generally don't have much to fear and are a hopeful lot.

How unlike America, and its current head-in-the-sand approach to the world. It has become so insular and fearful of its own people that it seeks to keep them in a constant state of fear. Why else would it behave as it does? Remember, all of the nonsense spouted by "Brains" in Washington and his band of merry men is targeted at America and Americans -- he is long past caring what the world thinks of him. The rationale seems to be that the population must be kept compliant and obedient. So, America must always have big, scary enemies.

If America doesn't have an enemy, it creates one! The policy seems to be that there must be a Bogey Man to fear at all times.

Though in some cases America's enemies are more than illusory spectres. Take Osama - created by the US and supported by the US when his particular brand of evil was of use. Now the US terror-training has been utilised to destroy American lives, rather than the Soviet and Afghan lives at which it was aimed.

And before guys like him, it was Gadaffi - another pawn in the US's game-plan. And before him it was "the communists" and God knows who else. And as a side-show we get characters like Saddam - also a product of American meddling. He only ever wanted to be America's friend, and this was the case until the the US attacked him, not the other way around.

Years and years of this have had an impact on the popular consciousness. America has become fearful - because the powers that be want it to be fearful.

Fearful people are compliant and allow you to enslave them - and you get legislation like the Patriot Act, which probably would not have passed parliament anywhere else on earth.

Americans seem remarkably unruffled about their recent loss of freedoms, suggesting that they are either on-side with Bush and his corhort -- or that they are ignorant of the changes. Either is very worrying.

The Moral High Ground

The international community has reacted with predictable ire at the recent nuclear test in North Korea. The prospect of this pariah state "tooled-up" and capable of inflicting serious damage on her neighbours is seemingly too much for the international community to bear. Even China seems to consider this a step too far, and America will doubtless push hard at the UN for a serious response.

The outrage at North Korea's nuclear ambition is perfectly understandable, as the last thing we need is a seemingly deranged dictator with such weapons. However, one cannot help but marvel at the astonishing arrogance of America, which is currently investing millions in the next generation of nuclear weapons. To be clear, they seem to think that nukes are fine as long as they are the only ones allowed to have them. Now, at one time, most westerners would have been happy enough to accept America's claim to the moral high ground, but in light of recent events this pill is a little bit hard to swallow. And, after all, the US is the only country with a history of actually using these terrible weapons.

It would be a little more paletable if the countries shouting loudest in response to this nuclear test were moving towards eradication of their own nuclear arsenals. In fact, the opposite is the case. And if the reaction to these events were consonant with responses to other countries engaging in similar behaviour, then the current cry for blood might be easier to support. But when France did exactly the same thing some years ago, there was a little bit of shouting, but no real action.

It seems that different standards apply to predominantly white western nations than the rest of the world. Unless, that is, the country in question is more difficult to bully. Take China, for example. America knows well that the Chinese would brook little interference in its affairs, and is very capable of defending itself. So it leaves well enough alone. The chances of the US intervening in China to bring "freedom" or "democracy" are about a million to one. So they support the Chinese regime by trading with them and allowing American companies to make huge investments in the Chinese ecomony.

America picks on the weak and cosies-up to the strong. It has become a bully.

And all bullies face the same end - they eventually come up against someone bigger than themselves, and usually find that they have no friends left to help them.

In the meantime, while idiots like Bush posture and justify themselves and their violence with the language of peace, thousands of nuclear weapons still sit in silos around the world, waiting for someone stupid enough to push the button. How ironic if the man who starts World War III cannot pronounce 'nuclear.'

The End Of Days

Being a man of the sea, I have often noticed how affecting it is to lose sight of land - to be able to see only water on all sides. One feels utterly detached and disconnected from humanity. After a while I usually puts on me little wireless, just to hear the voice of another. I was doing just this today, and I began to ponder what it would be like to remain in that state of disconnection for any length of time. It occured to me that this is what life must be like for Bush - all of the lies and false expectations of his grubby little adventure in Iraq have been exposed, the inhumane treatment of US detainees has been revealed and the fraudulent underbelly of the "War on Terror" has been bared. Even the American people are increasingly seeing Bush as a liability. In order to maintain his sense that he is a good man doing the Lord's work, it is important that he shut himself off from the reality of his situation and convince himself that he is a just and decent person. Imagine the consequences of any failure on his part to do this - he might actually see himself as the world sees him, as a mean and vindictive tyrant who cares little for freedom or justice. A man of no decency.

I wonder what will happen when his presidency comes to an end, and some time passes and he has less and less to occupy him. Will he begin to allow his thoughts to drift towards the reality of what he has done? Will he allow himself to consider all of the children who have died so that his rich friends can become richer? Will he think about the ruined lives, the dead and mained American servicemen and women? Might he consider the long-term consequences of his self-righteous crusade? If so, what effect would this have?

I suppose it depends on whether he really is just a stupid dupe, pandering to the twisted demands of the neo-cons. If that is the case, then maybe he will sleep easy. But if he actually knows what he is doing - if he really understands what is being done in his name, then I suspect that he will have some terrible times ahead. And this might come sooner rather than later, because I think he will be dropped like a hot brick as soon as his time in the White House ends - nobody will want to be associated with him once his power is gone. And he probably wont get much of an airing during the next election campaign - I reckon candidates from all sides will be trying to emphasise how different they are from "W".

So, it seems he will have the one thing which might be intolerable to him: time to think.

---

In some respects this shabby presidency may end up being of benefit to mankind - when all of the dirt finally floats to the surface, the backlash may result in a move towards greater tranparency and honesty in public life. Of course, "W" doesn't have much of a legacy to leave behind, apart from the deaths of many thousands and the stench of greed. Not to mention, turning America into a pariah state and throwing the world into chaos. Not bad for a guy who wouldn't get a job in McDonald's in europe.

Friendship

When I was very little my mother spoke to me about the importance of friendship. “After your mammy and daddy are gone,” she would say, “your friends will mind you and help you to be good and keep out of trouble.” Taking her at her word, I put a lot of effort into my friendships, and probably thought more about these relationships than most small boys growing up in the suburbs of 1970’s and 1980’s Dublin (for 1980’s Dublin, read: no jobs, no money, little hope). And over the years, I have had many wonderful friendships, some enduring, some passing and some cut short by a foolish row or other abbreviating event. Now, as a man, I am blessed with wonderful friends – decent, caring people who I know are there when I need them. Whether my good fortune in this regard is due to careful cultivation, arising from my mother’s advice, or sheer good luck, I don’t know. But I do know that when my parents are no more, my friends will mind me and keep me out of trouble.

Thoughts of this recently brought to mind America’s current standing in the world – and the actions of the present administration. This country has been abandoning its friends as if there was an infinite supply. Relationships nurtured over generations have been cast aside in the race to war, in the race to occupation and in the race to demonise the innocent (France, for example). Friendships forged in the heat of America’s gallantry in WWII have been swept aside in a heart-beat. Millions, raised on the history of Nazism’s failure, and the realpolitic of the cold war, are starting to think the previously unthinkable: Could it be that America is actually the bad guy?

All around the world, people had happily appropriated the American Dream as their dream – freedom, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. This meant something to them, something to hope for and believe in.

A lot of them have stopped believing.

And as the US has stopped listening to its friends, they have stopped listening to the US – statements from the White House are now received with little more than derision. Bush has become a figure of fun. But, deep down, no one is truly laughing – they are afraid. Afraid of what is happening in the world, afraid of what is to come.

Put simply, they are afraid of America.

Equally worrying for the millions who deplore US actions are the new friendships America has been forming. Pakistan, for example – yet another dictatorship which suits America’s current purpose.

In the past, US support for terrible men (Pol Pot, et al) was generally brushed-over with phrases like “cold-war politics” or “the fight against communism.” But now this history is being re-examined, in the light of current events.

I doubt that ordinary Americans have any idea of how much anger there is towards them globally and, frankly, I think they would be shocked. Americans are, by and large, hard-working, decent people. But they seem totally unaware of the consequences of their voting decisions – US television news certainly wont enlighten them, or even inform them. It has become part of the plan, part of the “war on terror.”

When Bush says “freedom is on the march” they report this, but for millions it is not on the march – and US support for the regimes standing between those millions and their liberty is rarely portrayed as such.

In Europe, people want Americans to take charge and hold their officials vigorously to account. Their failure in this respect shocks and disturbs. People of the world know that millions of Americans support what is happening, but that millions are disgusted by it. Those that see the badness in current US foreign policy either have no voice, or will not speak.

For very many years, America has been an aspirational culture for people everywhere. As a boy, I wanted to be an American kid with all of the privilege that suggests. As a younger man, I held a fascination for the “American Project” of liberty and freedom. Now, like many, I am disillusioned. Like many, I now question the truth of that project. Like many, I now no longer consider America a friend.

For millions of people across the globe, this is now the case – they no longer care for America, no longer believe in America and no longer aspire to what they view as America’s corrupted ideals. Even in Britain, the partner in “the war on terror,” the vast majority of people are appalled by what Bush and Blair have done and are sickened by the consequences.

It is a tragedy that in a few short years President Bush has turned a friend of nations into a friendless nation. And he does so without an appreciation of history or even, seemingly, current events.

Perhaps the truest definition of unilateral is, simply, friendless.

Say a little prayer...

As I type this the wind howls outside me little window and the briney makes the old girl lurch a little too severely for comfort. But I'll be all right - been here before y'see, been in worse seas on lesser boats. So, I reckon me old girl will see me through, God bless her hull. I've always had a good relationship with the sea, and with the wind. I respect them, y'see - you gotta respect them what can kill you.

Still, I always say a little prayer before I lay down my weary head.

I say two prayers, in fact - one for me, asking the Lord to watch over me and keep me from harm. And an extra one for all the other boys and men at sea.

With all that's happening in the world, with Bush and his eternal state of war, I think tonight I will pray for peace above all else. Perhaps you might like to join me?

Wouldn't it be great if we could all join together and pray for an end to the violence?

True Freedom Of Expression

Hello all -- hope you're all wrapped-up nice an' cosy like me on this cold, rainy night. Me little stove is struggling against the cold and the blankets are a bit threadbare, but I think we'll do all right. I'm listening to BBC Radio 4 on me little wireless while I type this. They're discussing attitudes of Muslims in Britain towards the London terror attacks. What strikes me most is the freedom of expression and the fact that this show is live and wide-ranging. Also, it hits quite an intellectual tone, without attempting to simplify or 'dumb-down' the topic under discussion.

How very unlike the American mainstream media, which seems to consider the viewer/listener as moronic. I was particularly shocked by the tone of a US news show I saw recently, which was simplistic and jingoistic in the extreme. I am by no means the first old salt to comment on the shortcomings of American journalism, but I have noticed recently an interesting development. Thousands of Americans are taking to the intenet to express their views and to discuss world events. Very often the tone is quite sophisticated and intellectual, so unlike the mainstrean media outlets.

There are many blogs, discussion groups and fora in existence now - perhaps suggesting that many americans are simply leaving the nonsensical TV news behind them. This gives me a great hope for the future, as - even if I disagree with what many of them are saying - they are discussing and sharing ideas.

True, a lot of these sites are pro-war, but most of them will allow dissenting comments if presented politely and with a good heart. This is a great opportunity for all of us who are against this vile war and think that Bush is an idiot. Go to the right-wing sites and discussion boards, tell them what you think, begin discussions. By exposing these people to a different perspective, we might even manage to convince some of them that they are supporting an immoral crusade.

Or, even better - start your own blog! Its free and fun and you can say whatever you like (more or less).

Now, its time for me to fill the old briar pipe and snuggle down for the night. Take care, and watch out for ice-bergs. Aaar.

Been a while...

...but I guess I should do some sort of an update.

I'm not sure why I haven't posted in ages, but I guess I got sorta down about the whole thing. In my innocence, my belief was that once the lies and corruption surrounding the invasion and occupation of Iraq became clear, only idiots and corrupt morons could continue to support this vile undertaking. How wrong I was. The village idiot in the White House seems to be utterly shameless, and no revelation can knock the self-righteous neo-cons off the greasy pole of wealth and opportunity.

There is little argument now that many untruths were peddled as 'intelligence' before the bombers were unleashed and American kids were shipped-in to kill other kids (and be killed in droves themselves). This is nothing new - remember Colin Powell and the '2500 tanks' at the Saudi border prior to Gulf War One? Remember the girl from Kuwait who testafied of the atrocities committed by marauding Iraqi soldiers, also prior to Gulf War One? Well, there were no tanks, and the girl was the daughter of the Kuwaiti ambassador, coached by a US public relations firm.

The more things change, the more they stay the same, as the French say.

The problem here is that in the US establishment, even the people don't change! In 1968, Colin Powell - then a young staff army Major - played a direct role in covering-up the Mai Lai Massacre in Vietnam. Is there a special 'fast-track' career path in the American defence establishment for those who will happily lie to protect the shabby ambitions of US foreign policy? Seems like it.

Perhaps the White House is protected by some sort of shame and irony proof force-field which allows the incumbant to reist the forces of truth, ridicule and incredulity. The rest of the world has been laughing at the transparent tissue of lies which overlays the grubby quest for oil in Iraq for a number of years now. And, it seems, an increasing number of Americans are now in on the joke.

So - why does nothing change?

My guess is that it has a lot to do with mainstream media - basically, American TV news. These guys couldn't find their backsides with both hands, never mind the holes in the crappy canvas of untruth held up by the administration to obscure the view of the coffins of servicemen and the convoy of American corporations, lining up to join the gravy-train.

One example -- how can a news service which has a 'Saluting Fallen Heroes' slot during the news aggressively question the morality of the occupation? I mean, if they shouldn't be there then they are not fighting for 'freedom' - they are occupiers. Therefore, by no means heroes. In fact, as the Secretary General of the UN has declared the invasion to be illegal, then they are criminals - or, at least, taking their orders from criminals. I cannot imagine that many Americans would wish to be confronted with questions of this nature, and they can rest easy. The media is so partisan now that you can select which news source you will watch and pretty much guarentee that you need not worry about troubling questions. Now, that's real freedom!

So, what can be done? It seems that few American heads have been turned by the emerging facts about Iraq, as few heads turned when Pol Pot (supportd by America) was widely revealed to be a mass murderer. As few heads turned when the atrocities committed by Saddam (while America held his jacket) were publicised, prior to Gulf War One. The fact that the lies told prior to this invasion can now be clearly seen as part of a greater web of untruths, spun by various American governments during the past fifty years seems to impact lightly upon the mass of Americans. In any european country the media would simply not tolerate such behaviour, let alone actively work to aid the fibbers!

I think the anti-war forces must go back to basics. It is time to thoroughly examine the events of 9/11. There are so many unanswered questions and suspicious events surrounding the attacks on the twin towers and the Pentagon that I cannot possibly summarise them here. But if the American people could be shown that these attacks were (at least) allowed to happen by their government, perhaps that might spark some serious questions in the mainstream media. How this can be done, I am not sure - many thoughtful and intelligent people have tried to highlight the 'holes' in the official story. Perhaps if someone with the stature of, say, Michael Moore took up this subject or made a short movie on this theme it would shake things up a bit.