LONDON - At last, in this calamitous week when I am - like millions
across the world - at my most helpless, pessimistic, enraged and
incapacitated I finally understand what patriotism feels like. I am
burning with fury; I cannot watch any of the coverage; I refused
appearances on two broadcasts discussing the campaign. I didn't go on the
London march at the weekend because I might easily have thrown stones or
placards or myself on to the road.
I object to the war today, not as a woman, not as (an imperfect)
Muslim, not even as a human rights warrior, but as a protective Briton
whose country has been betrayed by one of the most devious and
unprincipled Prime Ministers we have ever had. No realpolitik, national
self-interest or the demands of office can excuse or explain the surrender
we are experiencing. Our independence is one of the first casualties of
this new world disorder.
On Saturday, the UCI cinema ticket I bought had dollar instead of pound
signs on it. It captured - albeit unintentionally - the pervasive American
domination over our land. Geoff Hoon, on television at the weekend, was
robustly claiming he was in joint command, although he couldn't explain
why the first day's action was decided on unilaterally by the US. And when
asked about Turkey's entry into Kurdistan his answer was equally
instructive: "Well, the US has told Turkey not to take this action."
At the RAF base in Fairford, Gloucestershire, razor-wired to protect US
bombers taking off to blitz Iraq, signs say: "Restricted area... Use of
deadly force authorised." America claims the right to shoot dead British
subjects who enter this land.
Our generals are now saying "Eye-rack" for Iraq. Meanwhile the Trade
and Industry Secretary, Patricia Hewitt, is begging the Americans to give
British contractors a few crumbs left from the reconstruction projects
which have been given to US companies.
The most ardent pro-American Briton will find such subjugation
unbearable as this war goes on and it is followed by others, equally
illegitimate and already mapped out by the belligerent US regime. Trust
me, I have lived under imperialism. It may bestow some advantages, and
some keen new liberal imperialists, such as the journalist John Lloyd and
the diplomat Robert Cooper, think this hegemony will be a force for
immeasurable good; but not so, not at all. Another power controlling your
destiny is hard to bear. Dollars cannot make up for freedom and
self-determination being violated. And the proud people of this country,
and of Iraq, will soon understand this.
The sovereignty of Britain is now irrevocably compromised by a Prime
Minister who has made himself a wifey to Bush, standing by his man
whatever the world may think or say.
How cringe-making it is to watch Brown, Straw et al following their
Leader.
Robin Cook was brilliant when he resigned but even he was unable to
directly attack Blair for being the Viceroy of the US. If Bush had decided
last minute not to invade, would Blair say he still believes we should
attack Iraq? If Al Gore had won the election, Blair would be chasing after
him. If they elected a monkey as US president, our leader would ingratiate
himself and do its bidding.
Using discredited evidence, lies and criminal thoughtlessness we have
been made the second most-hated nation in the world. Admirable Americans
do understand what damage such a reputation brings. The US diplomat John
Brady Kiesling resigned from his post in Athens, saying: "Our fervent
pursuit of war with Iraq is driving us to squander the international
legitimacy which has been America's most potent weapon of both offence and
defence since the days of Woodrow Wilson." That we are seen in the same
terms is a catastrophe.
That quivering sincerity Blair brings out every time he has to sell us
another repulsive US directive is just another bit of fakery; it is
make-up he slaps on to look good while he covers up the truth. And he
doesn't fool Muslims by patting us on the head as he did last week in the
Commons: "I know the vast majority of Muslims are good and law-abiding
people who are contributing an immense amount to our country." Time to
throw up. Again.
This war is immoral, illegal, dangerous and wrong. And even if we get
our devastation in fast and Iraqis are dancing in the street, this remains
my assessment.
Real patriots should reject the devious calls to "support our boys" now
that action has begun. This is abominable blackmail, as vile as the
accusation that anti-warpeople support Saddam. My husband has young male
relatives actively engaged in our army. Yet he and his sister are
stridently anti-war.
The legal basis is so tenuous that Elizabeth Wilmhurst, the deputy
legal officer at the Foreign Office, has resigned because she disagrees
with the opinion given by the Attorney General that our actions are
lawful. Anti-war young people are dismissed by ministers as trite and
trendy. Yet Blair uses as propaganda the outpourings of a young Iraqi
student in Cambridge who just happens to be pro-war.
Are pre-emptive strikes now the norm for all countries? Why now? What
is the link between Iraq and Osama bin Laden? None of these questions have
been answered. Meanwhile, the Iraqis are stoic, writes the Lebanese
journalist Nuha el-Radi. Her friend Lamia, in Baghdad, has had a pedicure,
manicure and hairdo. If she is going to die, she wants to be neat.
Our leadership has stamped over our democracy, and our relationships
with the European Union and the rest of the world. The hate-mongering
against France should make Britons ashamed. I may not like much that goes
on in France, but its stand against the US gives that country real status.
France has saved the United Nations from being regarded as a US puppet.
Britain was once trusted by Arabs, with whom we shared a long history.
We were not seen as blind supporters of Israeli policies - that was the
US. Progressive people in Egypt, Kuwait and elsewhere promoted universal
values based on our democracy, civil service and respect for human rights.
That old post-colonial suspicion had faded and mutual respect was
emerging.
A new report, Public Diplomacy and the Middle East, by the Foreign
Policy Centre and the British Council, shows how this trust has collapsed.
Surveys show the US/UK axis is now undifferentiated by Arabs and others.
One Arab journalist is quoted as saying that on Iraq: "the UK is worse
than America. People look down on them. They should give at least a
semblance of neutrality. It is worse than Guam and that is real US
territory."
Ponder this as cluster bombs and depleted uranium cause more deaths, as
more Iraqi flags are replaced with the stars and stripes (we have
witnessed this already), and we join the coalition of the lowly.
- INDEPENDENT