Home > London. Once again: our deaths - your war
Wars and conflicts International Attack-Terrorism UK Italy
The bombings which horrified London, like the events of the 11th of March in Madrid,
struck at the civilian population of the British capital during the summit meeting
of the eight big world powers. An attack on civilians is clearly an act of
terrorism, but no-one can fail to understand that these operations are conceived by
those who plan them and carry them out as acts of war in response to the actions of
the western powers in Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine. In this context we wish to
express our solidarity with all those who are victims of this war.
With these bombings the war is making a dramatic entry into the homes and daily
lives of the people of the states which are taking part in the pre-emptive war, the
occupation and oppression of other peoples and their countries. After the Madrid
bombings of the 11th of March the people filled the streets and squares, carrying
banners with the very clear, courageous slogan: ’Our deaths - your war!’ This slogan
signalled the end of the of the reactionary Aznar government which, against the
wishes of the majority of the Spanish people, supported the USA and wanted at all
costs to be a part of the political and military coalition which had illegally and
unjustly invaded Iraq.
Now it is time for Berlusconi’s government to take the right decision. Most people
in our country want Italian troops to be pulled out of Iraq and for Italy to have
nothing to do with the war or its consequences. The government, on the other hand,
continues to pretend not to understand this and carry on with the occupation of Iraq
and Afghanistan as if this were part of its normal administrative duties. Until now
they have counted on the reluctance of most of the opposition to engage in a serious
struggle to bring the troops home.
The London bombings have shown both the government and the centre-left that there is not much time left to make the right decision: bring the troops home from Iraq and put a stop to Italian involvement in the war. Their decisions will have momentous consequences, but not only for the people of Iraq: tomorrow the Italians could also be seriously affected.
Once again, we say that the government is responsible for the war:
our deaths - your war!
Committee for the Withdrawal of Italian Soldiers from Iraq
Forum posts
12 July 2005, 05:39
So Italian troops don’t belong in the "war on terror" either, huh? So how were they involved in it anyhow? I was a soldier in Afghanistan over a year ago and there were lots of Italians in Bagram. But on who’s authority were they sent? The US’? Obviously not. Either the soldiers that Italy provided were made available due to some type of treaty which afforded assistance to the US in its’ (I believe) false hour of need.... or the real people controlling Italy (not neccesarily legitimate figureheads) wanted in on the action. Probably both scenarios are tandemly true. Italy is loaded with a criminal underworld — they run things, not the people. I suggest that Italy is therefore just like the US, but I could be wrong — things in Italy might even be worse. Like the other major countries in that part of the world, the people who have called the Italian peninsula home in the past have gained much due to its’ imperialistic ways. I say ’welcome to the way it seeks wealth in the 21st century.’ On the matter of dissapointed Italian citizens over this war, maybe there would be less complaining going on in Italy today if the Italian citizens could witness a more lucrative... er... JUSTFUL war versus the one that’s going on for all of the oil in the mideast right now. Maybe Italian citizens overly concerned with the manipulation of their troops by forigners would forget their narrow, unenlightened discontent and avidly pick up the Italian flag and wave it once again should its’ nation shed its’ globalized, goody-goody ideals and begin to take action upon its’ own personal, greedy intent just like it did in the good ol days. Maybe a maneuver like — oh, I don’t know — invading Africa for it’s resourses instead of the middle east would be more glorious and patriotic to Italians these days — you tell me. On second thought, never mind... you don’t have a clue.
12 July 2005, 09:03
I am not sure what your point is in the post.
However, let it be understood that there is a lot of things that are readily visible to the public as to the deals that were made in order for the forces of Italy to participate in the wars.
As an example, information became available after the first GW that almost all of the countries that made up the alies were given some economic considerations above and beyond whatever was the normal U.S. trading levels for those countries. I recall reading that Turkeye was given an extra $400 million leeway in textile exports to the U.S. Syria was also given additional aid and was given a free hand in moving more forces into Lebanon. I am sure if one if truly interested in what I am saying can check the later published accounts from the time in the various mass media.
For these nations, the dollar amounts are worth going along with the U.S. whether they agree to what is being said and done.
So, in some respects, the leaders of those nations saw some benefits for their nations and bit the bullet and became part of GW I. Now, it may be said that that kind of thing holds true in this war as well.
I do recall some statements made by then WH staff, Condi Rice [et al] that only countries participating in this was with the U.S. will be granted rights to rebuilding and oil contract bidding. So, it could be that Italy, a major non-OPEC oil producing nation saw that it had a chance to get at some of Iraqi oil and thus sent a handful of troops.
In any event, what almost all of the peoples seem to not ralize that the U.S. has approx 150,000 troops while most other nations outside of the U.K. had a few hundred or so. Even the U.K. when looking at the ration is 1 UK to 15 US, as far as troops go.
But in all cases, it so appears that people clump tha CF as one and attempts to give the impression that somehow, all are equally dedicated to the grand [and shifting] cause of the U.S.
12 July 2005, 19:24
Your reaction is exactly what the terrorists were looking for. Good job. Once everyone prematurely pulls out and the insurgents take over, remind me to thank you for all you’ve done to promote world peace.
13 July 2005, 05:36
You’re welcome and you’re wrong. The resistance in Iraq are mostly Iraqi’s who want the occupation to end. The Iraqi people have repeatedly asked us to leave....but the US tells the PM he better shut-up and put up-to hell with what the people want. Of course, you might have missed those requests, since MSM refused to carry them. How do I know? Because their reporters told me-I keep up on these things, my son is in Iraq...as part of the OH National Guard...not International Guard
PS- I am sorry about London, I hope it is better investigated than our 911