Letter: We have been the ones creating misery in Iraq

Thursday, Sept. 13, 2007 | 7:41 a.m.

We occupy Iraq mostly because of stupidity, arrogance, imperialism, propaganda, faulty intelligence, pie-in-the sky aims and petroleum - the lies about which reverberate without end in the halls of power and self-interest, making falsehoods seem like noble truths.

Can anybody believe we're creating civilization anew in the Middle East?

The plans to bomb Iraq had lain in neoconservative shadows for years. What these plans awaited was a justifiable motive, which came with 9/11. Old and pampered men seized the moment as apparent heroes while the real heroes sank into graves and filled pulmonary wards.

Throughout human history, leaders have shielded raw ambition by appeals to religion, patriotism and noble intention. Above all, leaders rely on bogeymen and hobgoblins to plant fear and the thirst for revenge in the human heart - not a hard thing to do. Saddam Hussein - Reagan's ally in the battle against an Iran destabilized by Western coups and assassinations - fit the bill perfectly.

Making a monster of Saddam was a piece a cake because, like dictators (often installed and supported by America), he was a thug - although a secular, well-contained one.

The government in Washington is a fiefdom of wealth and conservative self-interests. It cannot be expected to act in any noble and brave way on behalf of ordinary citizens - to risk inflicting harm on itself.

Thoughtful and educated Americans who see through the mendacity expect nothing more than for the killing to continue. In this sense, Gen. David Petraeus has been dutiful. We can expect to be hated occupiers in Iraq for many years to come.

David Fredericks, Las Vegas

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