Where are the Americans?

But what I don’t understand is this: Before Bush made the war, there were many people in the streets of America saying “No to war.” At that time, we wanted to get rid of Saddam. We said maybe we should wait to see what America would do. Now America is occupying our country. Where are all the Americans who are against the occupation? Why are there no demonstrations like before the war?—Iraqi General Farouk Mu’adan in an interview with Aaron Glantz (How America Lost Iraq p. 196).

Maybe you've gotten past the fact that the war in Iraq is a criminal and immoral war and you're just wondering, "How'd we fuck up so bad?" How did we lose Iraq? I haven't found anybody who answers this question as well as Aaron Glance. From the preface of the paperback edition:

Three years after the invasion, there is still very little clean water or electricity in the country. Conservative estimates put unemployment at 60 percent, and a constant din of violence keeps most children our of school.

Put yourself in the shoes of an average Iraqi.

Three years after your “liberation,” more than 130,000 foreign troops still patrol through your country’s streets and alleyways, frequently arresting your neighbors and taking them off to prisons like Abu Ghraib. Two years after photos reveal graphic torture in American -run prisons, the Pentagon admits it still holds more than 10,000 “security detainees” in Iraq. These detainees are not charged with any crime; they are simply brought before a secret military tribunal, which decides their immediate fate.

As many Iraqis ask: “Where is the democracy? Where is the freedom?”

Getting back to what General Mu’adan asked, “Where are we?” Mr. Glantz was asked again and again, “Where are the Americans that are against this war?” Those of us in the peace movement know that we’re trying. We’re out there every week protesting this war. But we need more people to join us. We need to let the Iraqis know that we care. We need to show them that we are doing everything we can to end this barbaric and destructive war. Show the Iraqis you care. Show your fellow Americans you care. Find a peace group near you today! If you live in the great Los Angeles area, check out ANSWER LA and RAPJA.

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