"When all of the other reasons for engaging in a pre-emptive war against Iraq were proven wanting, the president appealed to the idea that the freedom conferred on Iraq was in and of itself an adequate justification for the war. The Iraqis were free, and that was all that really mattered. But what sort of ‘freedom’ is envisaged here, since, as the cultural critic Matthew Arnold long ago thoughtfully observed, ‘freedom is a very good horse to ride, but to ride somewhere’. To what destination, then, are the Iraqi people expected to ride the horse of freedom donated to them by force of arms?
The Bush administration’s answer to this question was spelled out on 19 September 2003, when Paul Bremer, head of the Coalition Provisional Authority, promulgated four orders that included ‘the full privatization of public enterprises, full ownership rights by foreign firms of Iraqi businesses, full repatriation of foreign profits … the opening of Iraq’s banks to foreign control, national treatment for foreign companies and … the elimination of nearly all trade barriers’. The orders were to apply to all areas of the economy, including public services, the media, manufacturing, services, transportation, finance, and construction. Only oil was exempt (presumably because of its special status as revenue producer to pay for the war and its geopolitical significance). The labour market, on the other hand, was to be strictly regulated. Strikes were effectively forbidden in key sectors and the right to unionize restricted. A highly regressive ‘flat tax’ (an ambitious tax reform plan long advocated for implementation by conservatives in the US) was also imposed.
These orders were, some argued, in violation of the Geneva and Hague Conventions, since an occupying power is mandated to guard the assets of an occupied country and not sell them off."

David Harvey, A Brief History of Neoliberalism

But no, free trade ex vi termini means happy peace confetti. What do you mean these same measures are being imposed on the fringe EU countries? Nah that’s just a coincidence. Austerity is just the hangover-after-the-party.

(via bbthity)

Posted at 5:35 AM - April 09, 2012. source.

There is currently an ethnic cleansing of black people going on in Lybia and it is reported NOWHERE in the major news outlets, which like most westerners, supported the racist thugs of Tripoli!!

dreams-from-my-father:

Will black people be wiped out for the second time on African soil by Arabs while the international community - that armed and supported the rebels - says NOTHING??

The Tawerghas, a tribe of black Libyans in the South of the country, are being systematically targeted and killed by the new regime of Tripoli!! 

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2011/09/201192511758272379.html

http://libyancivilwar.blogspot.com/2011/09/fall-and-purge-of-tawergha.html

http://libyasos.blogspot.com/2011/09/genocide-racism-ethic-cleasing-of.html

http://humanrightsinvestigations.org/2011/09/26/libya-ethnic-cleansing-tawargha-genocide/

http://libyaagainstsuperpowermedia.com/2012/02/17/mercenaries-celebrate-occupation-while-genocide-continues-in-south/

Posted at 8:40 PM - February 26, 2012. source.
thehammerandsickle:

A train overturned by striking workers at the main railway depot in Tiflis in 1905; during the revolution of 1905, railroads such as the trans baikal railway were seized by revolutionaries and strikers in order to hault the advance of returning russian troops from the russo-japanese war, resulting in the tsar having to transport seperate groups of loyal troops along the trans-siberian railway in order to restore order.

thehammerandsickle:

A train overturned by striking workers at the main railway depot in Tiflis in 1905; during the revolution of 1905, railroads such as the trans baikal railway were seized by revolutionaries and strikers in order to hault the advance of returning russian troops from the russo-japanese war, resulting in the tsar having to transport seperate groups of loyal troops along the trans-siberian railway in order to restore order.

Posted at 4:22 PM - January 16, 2012. source.
sinidentidades:

No, the U.S. is not leaving Iraq
In a speech at Fort Bragg, N.C., Wednesday, President Obama declared that the war in Iraq is over.
“I’ve come to speak to you about the end of the war in Iraq,” he told gathered troops. “Over the last few months, the final work of leaving Iraq has been done. Dozens of bases with American names that housed thousands of American troops have been closed down or turned over to the Iraqis.  Thousands of tons of equipment have been packed up and shipped out. Tomorrow, the colors of United States Forces-Iraq — the colors you fought under — will be formally cased in a ceremony in Baghdad.”
All the specifics were true. But what about Obama’s claim that the war has come to a end?
The truth is more complicated. It turns out the Obama administration is leaving behind a huge contingent from the State Department along with thousands of armed private contractors. The possibility for violence between Americans and Iraqis is very real.

sinidentidades:

No, the U.S. is not leaving Iraq

In a speech at Fort Bragg, N.C., Wednesday, President Obama declared that the war in Iraq is over.

“I’ve come to speak to you about the end of the war in Iraq,” he told gathered troops. “Over the last few months, the final work of leaving Iraq has been done. Dozens of bases with American names that housed thousands of American troops have been closed down or turned over to the Iraqis.  Thousands of tons of equipment have been packed up and shipped out. Tomorrow, the colors of United States Forces-Iraq — the colors you fought under — will be formally cased in a ceremony in Baghdad.”

All the specifics were true. But what about Obama’s claim that the war has come to a end?

The truth is more complicated. It turns out the Obama administration is leaving behind a huge contingent from the State Department along with thousands of armed private contractors. The possibility for violence between Americans and Iraqis is very real.

Posted at 6:27 PM - December 20, 2011. source.