You would never know by listening to Bush and other politicians (Democrats, too) that freedom is one of the most notoriously debated and complex ideas in the history of political thought. Politicians make it strategically ambiguous so that individuals can attach their own definitions to the glittering generality that freedom is good.
But freedom hardly applies to the dead. Dead for freedom.
Free: Better Off Dead
It is worth noting what has become of many of the Iraqis who were to be liberated in the name of 9/11 and American security (at once a moral and a practical, necessary offense/defense project). Iraq Body Count estimates between 43,387 and 48,174 Iraqi civilians are now dead since the American invasion--almost fifteen times the number of Americans who perished on 9/11!
According to a compilation of other scientific studies, compared to the death rate before the war, the rate now points to around 250,000 excess deaths since the beginning of the war. This is, of course, to say nothing about the sacrifice of American lives in Iraq. The total number of dead American soldiers in Iraq has now exceeded the number of innocents killed in the attacks on 9/11.
Similarly, the attachment of freedom and civility to the U.S. has been strained, if not completely discredited, by American military practices of torture and an unclear understanding of how far up the ladder of command its sanction extended. In 2003, Bush attempted to make a case for war in Iraq to the American people by characterizing Hussein as a torturer: “International human rights groups have catalogued other methods used in the torture chambers of Iraq: electric shock, burning with hot irons, dripping acid on the skin, mutilation with electric drills, cutting out tongues, and rape.” What despicable irony that part of bringing “freedom” to Iraq and fighting a war on terror has brought revelations of torture executed by Americans on suspected and known terrorists imprisoned in Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo Bay, and Afghanistan. More recently, in his fifth anniversary of 9/11 memorial address, Bush attempted to arouse renewed support for his policies by calling them a “struggle for civilization.” In his topsy-turvy world, freedom is death and torture is civilized when Americans are doing it.
Making Politics a Dirty Word
It is no surprise, then, in this theater of infowar, that the Bush administration would do all it can to all but outlaw criticism and debate. Bush has repeatedly played the national unity card, a sub-card to his trump of national security, as a means of distracting publics, repelling criticism, and furthering his policy agenda.
Article comments
1 - Mark Schannon
Very powerful peace. You make it clear that neither side has shown much courage or integrity through this terrible time.
Sigh...
In Jameson Veritas.
2 - Neelan
US also adopts double standards in dealing with terrorism.On the one hand it fights terrorism and on the other it takes the help of Mushraf in Pakistan .Since 1947,Pakistan has been training people in terrorism and has been tagetting India.Never has US or any other country condemned it.In fact,it seems,the Western countries have taken this up as an opportunity to sell arms.What has resulted is that Pak and other pan islamic nations have got support all along. and they had their training camps .And no one was bothered as long as India was targeted. Unfortunately,no one from the Islamic intelligentia have also ever condemned terrorist attacks on India ,by Pak trained militants.Even now,terrorist training camps are active inside Pakistan.Mr.Bush has to undersatnd taht
Death is same -whether it is in USA or India.
3 - jayson
Thanks, Mark. And Neelan, I agree. The "U.S." as a composite of different rulers/parties throughout the 20th Century (to say nothing of the 19th)has been ethically fickle in its foreign policy and valuation of human life. As you know, Chalmers Johnson has referred to this as blowback.
best,
Jayson
4 - Nancy
Excellent article, which just fuels my ongoing rage at & loathing of the current adminstration as well as the scumbags of both parties currently infesting congress. Unfortunately politics always seems to attract the lowest of the low ethically & morally, and they in turn infect & corrupt everything & everyone around them. As with any nest of vermin, I think we need a good fumigation of both congress & the administration, and then start over from scratch. It has become painfully obvious there isn't anything these bastards won't stoop to, for self-aggrandizement, retention of power, or continued opportunity to plunder & gorge at the public trough.