FalloutStories related to 11 Sept 2001. |
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17/10/2004; 9:00:27 |
| Reckless Administration May Reap Disastrous Consequences: |
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'This nation is about to embark upon the first test of a revolutionary doctrine applied in an extraordinary way at an unfortunate time. The doctrine of preemption -- the idea that the United States or any other nation can legitimately attack a nation that is not imminently threatening but may be threatening in the future -- is a radical new twist on the traditional idea of self defense. It appears to be in contravention of international law and the UN Charter. And it is being tested at a time of world-wide terrorism, making many countries around the globe wonder if they will soon be on our -- or some other nation's -- hit list.' -U.S. Senator Robert Byrd, Feb. 12, 2003 |
| On the road to losing the peace : |
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'It was bad enough for the U.S. to have endured the intelligence failures that led to Sept. 11; it's another thing to know that 18 months, billions of dollars and untold numbers of bombs later that Osama bin Laden and most of his top advisers remain on the loose. This failure ought to be thrown daily in Mr. Bush's face, but he has diverted attention to Iraq, where the United States is about to make a mistake of historic proportions.' -Jeffrey Simpson in The Globe and Mail, 18 Feb 2003 |
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· $30bn goes to private military · Fears over 'hired guns' policy · British firms get big slice of contracts · Deals in Baghdad, Kabul and Balkans [Guardian Unlimited] 'There are other formidable problems surfacing in what is uncharted territory - issues of loyalty, accountability, ideology, and national interest. By definition, a private military company is in Iraq or Bosnia not to pursue US, UN, or EU policy, but to make money.
The growing clout of the military services corporations raises questions about an insidious, longer-term impact on governments' planning, strategy and decision-taking.
Mr Singer argues that for the first time in the history of the modern nation state, governments are surrendering one of the essential and defining attributes of statehood, the state's monopoly on the legitimate use of force.' . .< 11:52:38 PM  >Pentagon Bars Three Nations From Iraq Bids The Pentagon has barred French, German and Russian companies from competing for $18.6 billion in contracts. [New York Times: NYT HomePage] 'Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr. of Delaware, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued a statement criticizing the Pentagon move as a "totally gratuitous slap" that "does nothing to protect our security interests and everything to alienate countries we need with us in Iraq."' No specific mention of Canada. No surprise. . .< 11:48:08 PM >Chirac pays tribute to 'mon cher Jean'... Chirac pays tribute to 'mon cher Jean'
"They are measured by the civility and tolerance the nation demonstrates toward its international partners and its openness to dialogue with them."' . .< 11:01:58 PM >US Adopts Tougher Tactics in Iraq War A New York Times story (no registration required) has some details about the tactics US forces have begun using in Iraq. Examples include taking relatives of wanted Iraqis hostage, demolishing buildings thought to have been used by insurgents, fencing Iraqi villages in barbed wire and setting up checkpoints. [Kuro5hin.org] |
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On this day in 2003 2002 2001 |
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