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ArundhatiRoy:InstantMixImperialDemocracy,BuyOneGetOneFree

NEWSYOUWON'TFINDONCNN

ArundhatiRoy:InstantMixImperialDemocracy,BuyOne
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PresentedinNewYorkCityatTheRiversideChurch
May13,2003
Copyright2003byArundhatiRoy
SponsoredbytheCenterforEconomicandSocialRights
Audioprovidedby:DemocracyNow!
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Inthesetimes,whenwehavetoracetokeepabreastofthespeedatwhichourfreedomsarebeing
snatchedfromus,andwhenfewcanaffordtheluxuryofretreatingfromthestreetsforawhileinorder
toreturnwithanexquisite,fullyformedpoliticalthesisrepletewithfootnotesandreferences,what
profoundgiftcanIofferyoutonight?
Aswelurchfromcrisistocrisis,beameddirectlyintoourbrainsbysatelliteTV,wehavetothinkon
ourfeet.Onthemove.Weenterhistoriesthroughtherubbleofwar.Ruinedcities,parchedfields,
shrinkingforests,anddyingriversareourarchives.Cratersleftbydaisycutters,ourlibraries.
SowhatcanIofferyoutonight?Someuncomfortablethoughtsaboutmoney,war,empire,racism,and
democracy.Someworriesthatflitaroundmybrainlikeafamilyofpersistentmothsthatkeepmeawake
atnight.
Someofyouwillthinkitbadmannersforapersonlikeme,officiallyenteredintheBigBookofModern
Nationsasan"Indiancitizen,"tocomehereandcriticizetheU.S.government.Speakingformyself,I'm
noflagwaver,nopatriot,andamfullyawarethatvenality,brutality,andhypocrisyareimprintedon
theleadensoulofeverystate.Butwhenacountryceasestobemerelyacountryandbecomesan
empire,thenthescaleofoperationschangesdramatically.SomayIclarifythattonightIspeakasa
subjectoftheAmericanEmpire?Ispeakasaslavewhopresumestocriticizeherking.
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Sincelecturesmustbecalledsomething,minetonightiscalled:InstantMixImperialDemocracy(Buy
One,GetOneFree).
Transcript:
Waybackin1988,onthe3rdofJuly,theU.S.S.Vincennes,amissilecruiserstationedinthePersian
Gulf,accidentallyshotdownanIranianairlinerandkilled290civilianpassengers.GeorgeBushthe
First,whowasatthetimeonhispresidentialcampaign,wasaskedtocommentontheincident.Hesaid
quitesubtly,"IwillneverapologizefortheUnitedStates.Idon'tcarewhatthefactsare."
Idon'tcarewhatthefactsare.WhataperfectmaximfortheNewAmericanEmpire.Perhapsaslight
variationonthethemewouldbemoreapposite:Thefactscanbewhateverwewantthemtobe.
WhentheUnitedStatesinvadedIraq,aNewYorkTimes/CBSNewssurveyestimatedthat42percent
oftheAmericanpublicbelievedthatSaddamHusseinwasdirectlyresponsiblefortheSeptember11th
attacksontheWorldTradeCenterandthePentagon.AndanABCNewspollsaidthat55percentof
AmericansbelievedthatSaddamHusseindirectlysupportedAlQaida.Noneofthisopinionisbasedon
evidence(becausethereisn'tany).Allofitisbasedoninsinuation,autosuggestion,andoutrightlies
circulatedbytheU.S.corporatemedia,otherwiseknownasthe"FreePress,"thathollowpillaron
whichcontemporaryAmericandemocracyrests.
PublicsupportintheU.S.forthewaragainstIraqwasfoundedonamultitierededificeoffalsehood
anddeceit,coordinatedbytheU.S.governmentandfaithfullyamplifiedbythecorporatemedia.
ApartfromtheinventedlinksbetweenIraqandAlQaida,wehadthemanufacturedfrenzyaboutIraq's
WeaponsofMassDestruction.GeorgeBushtheLesserwenttotheextentofsayingitwouldbe
"suicidal"fortheU.S.nottoattackIraq.Weonceagainwitnessedtheparanoiathatastarved,bombed,
besiegedcountrywasabouttoannihilatealmightyAmerica.(Iraqwasonlythelatestinasuccessionof
countriesearliertherewasCuba,Nicaragua,Libya,Grenada,andPanama.)Butthistimeitwasn'tjust
yourordinarybrandoffriendlyneighborhoodfrenzy.ItwasFrenzywithaPurpose.Itusheredinanold
doctrineinanewbottle:theDoctrineofPreemptiveStrike,a.k.a.TheUnitedStatesCanDoWhatever
TheHellItWants,AndThat'sOfficial.
ThewaragainstIraqhasbeenfoughtandwonandnoWeaponsofMassDestructionhavebeenfound.
Notevenalittleone.Perhapsthey'llhavetobeplantedbeforethey'rediscovered.Andthen,themore
troublesomeamongstuswillneedanexplanationforwhySaddamHusseindidn'tusethemwhenhis
countrywasbeinginvaded.
Ofcourse,there'llbenoanswers.TrueBelieverswillmakedowiththosefuzzyTVreportsaboutthe
discoveryofafewbarrelsofbannedchemicalsinanoldshed.Thereseemstobenoconsensusyet
aboutwhetherthey'rereallychemicals,whetherthey'reactuallybannedandwhetherthevesselsthey're
containedincantechnicallybecalledbarrels.(Therewereunconfirmedrumoursthatateaspoonfulof
potassiumpermanganateandanoldharmonicawerefoundtheretoo.)
Meanwhile,inpassing,anancientcivilizationhasbeencasuallydecimatedbyaveryrecent,casually
brutalnation.
Thentherearethosewhosay,sowhatifIraqhadnochemicalandnuclearweapons?Sowhatifthereis
noAlQaidaconnection?SowhatifOsamabinLadenhatesSaddamHusseinasmuchashehatesthe
UnitedStates?BushtheLesserhassaidSaddamHusseinwasa"HomicidalDictator."Andso,the
reasoninggoes,Iraqneededa"regimechange."
Nevermindthatfortyyearsago,theCIA,underPresidentJohnF.Kennedy,orchestratedaregime
changeinBaghdad.In1963,afterasuccessfulcoup,theBa'athpartycametopowerinIraq.Usinglists
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providedbytheCIA,thenewBa'athregimesystematicallyeliminatedhundredsofdoctors,teachers,
lawyers,andpoliticalfiguresknowntobeleftists.Anentireintellectualcommunitywasslaughtered.
(ThesametechniquewasusedtomassacrehundredsofthousandsofpeopleinIndonesiaandEast
Timor.)TheyoungSaddamHusseinwassaidtohavehadahandinsupervisingthebloodbath.In1979,
afterfactionalinfightingwithintheBa'athParty,SaddamHusseinbecamethePresidentofIraq.In
April1980,whilehewasmassacringShias,theU.S.NationalSecurityAdviserZbigniewBrzezinksi
declared,"WeseenofundamentalincompatibilityofinterestsbetweentheUnitedStatesandIraq."
WashingtonandLondonovertlyandcovertlysupportedSaddamHussein.Theyfinancedhim,equipped
him,armedhim,andprovidedhimwithdualusematerialstomanufactureweaponsofmass
destruction.Theysupportedhisworstexcessesfinancially,materially,andmorally.Theysupportedthe
eightyearwaragainstIranandthe1988gassingofKurdishpeopleinHalabja,crimeswhich14years
laterwerereheatedandservedupasreasonstojustifyinvadingIraq.AfterthefirstGulfWar,the
"Allies"fomentedanuprisingofShiasinBasraandthenlookedawaywhileSaddamHusseincrushed
therevoltandslaughteredthousandsinanactofvengefulreprisal.
Thepointis,ifSaddamHusseinwasevilenoughtomeritthemostelaborate,openlydeclared
assassinationattemptinhistory(theopeningmoveofOperationShockandAwe),thensurelythose
whosupportedhimoughtatleasttobetriedforwarcrimes?Whyaren'tthefacesofU.S.andU.K.
governmentofficialsontheinfamouspackofcardsofwantedmenandwomen?
BecausewhenitcomestoEmpire,factsdon'tmatter.
Yes,butallthat'sinthepastwe'retold.SaddamHusseinisamonsterwhomustbestoppednow.And
onlytheU.S.canstophim.It'saneffectivetechnique,thisuseoftheurgentmoralityofthepresentto
obscurethediabolicalsinsofthepastandthemalevolentplansforthefuture.Indonesia,Panama,
Nicaragua,Iraq,Afghanistanthelistgoesonandon.Rightnowtherearebrutalregimesbeing
groomedforthefutureEgypt,SaudiArabia,Turkey,Pakistan,theCentralAsianRepublics.
U.S.AttorneyGeneralJohnAshcroftrecentlydeclaredthatU.S.freedomsare"notthegrantofany
governmentordocument,but.ourendowmentfromGod."(WhybotherwiththeUnitedNations
whenGodhimselfisonhand?)
Sohereweare,thepeopleoftheworld,confrontedwithanEmpirearmedwithamandatefromheaven
(and,asaddedinsurance,themostformidablearsenalofweaponsofmassdestructioninhistory).Here
weare,confrontedwithanEmpirethathasconferreduponitselftherighttogotowaratwill,andthe
righttodeliverpeoplefromcorruptingideologies,fromreligiousfundamentalists,dictators,sexism,
andpovertybytheageold,triedandtestedpracticeofextermination.Empireisonthemove,and
Democracyisitsslynewwarcry.Democracy,homedeliveredtoyourdoorstepbydaisycutters.Death
isasmallpriceforpeopletopayfortheprivilegeofsamplingthisnewproduct:InstantMixImperial
Democracy(bringtoaboil,addoil,thenbomb).
Butthenperhapschinks,negroes,dinks,gooks,andwogsdon'treallyqualifyasrealpeople.Perhaps
ourdeathsdon'tqualifyasrealdeaths.Ourhistoriesdon'tqualifyashistory.Theyneverhave.
Speakingofhistory,inthesepastmonths,whiletheworldwatched,theU.S.invasionandoccupation
ofIraqwasbroadcastonliveTV.LikeOsamabinLadenandtheTalibaninAfghanistan,theregimeof
SaddamHusseinsimplydisappeared.Thiswasfollowedbywhatanalystscalleda"powervacuum."
Citiesthathadbeenundersiege,withoutfood,water,andelectricityfordays,citiesthathadbeen
bombedrelentlessly,peoplewhohadbeenstarvedandsystematicallyimpoverishedbytheUN
sanctionsregimeformorethanadecade,weresuddenlyleftwithnosemblanceofurban
administration.Aseventhousandyearoldcivilizationslidintoanarchy.OnliveTV.
Vandalsplunderedshops,offices,hotels,andhospitals.AmericanandBritishsoldiersstoodbyand
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watched.Theysaidtheyhadnoorderstoact.Ineffect,theyhadorderstokillpeople,butnottoprotect
them.Theirprioritieswereclear.ThesafetyandsecurityofIraqipeoplewasnottheirbusiness.The
securityofwhateverlittleremainedofIraq'sinfrastructurewasnottheirbusiness.Butthesecurityand
safetyofIraq'soilfieldswere.Ofcoursetheywere.Theoilfieldswere"secured"almostbeforethe
invasionbegan.
OnCNNandBBCthescenesoftherampagewereplayedandreplayed.TVcommentators,armyand
governmentspokespersonsportrayeditasa"liberatedpeople"ventingtheirrageatadespoticregime.
U.S.DefenseSecretaryDonaldRumsfeldsaid:"It'suntidy.Freedom'suntidyandfreepeoplearefreeto
commitcrimesandmakemistakesanddobadthings."DidanybodyknowthatDonaldRumsfeldwas
ananarchist?IwonderdidheholdthesameviewduringtheriotsinLosAngelesfollowingthe
beatingofRodneyKing?WouldhecaretosharehisthesisabouttheUntidinessofFreedomwiththe
twomillionpeoplebeingheldinU.S.prisonsrightnow?(Theworld's"freest"countryhasthehighest
numberofprisonersintheworld.)WouldhediscussitsmeritswithyoungAfricanAmericanmen,28
percentofwhomwillspendsomepartoftheiradultlivesinjail?Couldheexplainwhyheservesunder
apresidentwhooversaw152executionswhenhewasgovernorofTexas?
BeforethewaronIraqbegan,theOfficeofReconstructionandHumanitarianAssistance(ORHA)sent
thePentagonalistof16crucialsitestoprotect.TheNationalMuseumwassecondonthatlist.Yetthe
Museumwasnotjustlooted,itwasdesecrated.Itwasarepositoryofanancientculturalheritage.Iraq
asweknowittodaywaspartoftherivervalleyofMesopotamia.Thecivilizationthatgrewalongthe
banksoftheTigrisandtheEuphratesproducedtheworld'sfirstwriting,firstcalendar,firstlibrary,first
city,and,yes,theworld'sfirstdemocracy.KingHammurabiofBabylonwasthefirsttocodifylaws
governingthesociallifeofcitizens.Itwasacodeinwhichabandonedwomen,prostitutes,slaves,and
evenanimalshadrights.TheHammurabicodeisacknowledgednotjustasthebirthoflegality,butthe
beginningofanunderstandingoftheconceptofsocialjustice.TheU.S.governmentcouldnothave
chosenamoreinappropriatelandinwhichtostageitsillegalwaranddisplayitsgrotesquedisregard
forjustice.
AtaPentagonbriefingduringthedaysoflooting,SecretaryRumsfeld,PrinceofDarkness,turnedon
hismediacohortswhohadservedhimsoloyallythroughthewar."Theimagesyouareseeingon
television,youareseeingoverandoverandover,andit'sthesamepicture,ofsomepersonwalkingout
ofsomebuildingwithavase,andyouseeittwentytimesandyousay,'Mygod,weretherethatmany
vases?Isitpossiblethattherewerethatmanyvasesinthewholecountry?'"
Laughterrippledthroughthepressroom.WoulditbealrightforthepoorofHarlemtolootthe
MetropolitanMuseum?Woulditbegreetedwithsimilarmirth?
ThelastbuildingontheORHAlistof16sitestobeprotectedwastheMinistryofOil.Itwastheonly
onethatwasgivenprotection.PerhapstheoccupyingarmythoughtthatinMuslimcountrieslistsare
readupsidedown?
TelevisiontellsusthatIraqhasbeen"liberated"andthatAfghanistaniswellonitswaytobecominga
paradiseforwomenthankstoBushandBlair,the21stcentury'sleadingfeminists.Inreality,Iraq's
infrastructurehasbeendestroyed.Itspeoplebroughttothebrinkofstarvation.Itsfoodstocksdepleted.
Anditscitiesdevastatedbyacompleteadministrativebreakdown.Iraqisbeingusheredinthedirection
ofacivilwarbetweenShiasandSunnis.Meanwhile,AfghanistanhaslapsedbackintothepreTaliban
eraofanarchy,anditsterritoryhasbeencarvedupintofiefdomsbyhostilewarlords.
Undauntedbyallthis,onthe2ndofMayBushtheLesserlaunchedhis2004campaignhopingtobe
finallyelectedU.S.President.Inwhatprobablyconstitutestheshortestflightinhistory,amilitaryjet
landedonanaircraftcarrier,theU.S.S.AbrahamLincoln,whichwassoclosetoshorethat,according
totheAssociatedPress,administrationofficialsacknowledged"positioningthemassiveshiptoprovide
thebestTVangleforBush'sspeech,withtheseaashisbackgroundinsteadoftheSanDiego
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coastline."PresidentBush,whoneverservedhisterminthemilitary,emergedfromthecockpitin
fancydressaU.S.militarybomberjacket,combatboots,flyinggoggles,helmet.Wavingtohis
cheeringtroops,heofficiallyproclaimedvictoryoverIraq.Hewascarefultosaythatitwas"justone
victoryinawaronterror[which]stillgoeson."
Itwasimportanttoavoidmakingastraightforwardvictoryannouncement,becauseundertheGeneva
Conventionavictoriousarmyisboundbythelegalobligationsofanoccupyingforce,aresponsibility
thattheBushadministrationdoesnotwanttoburdenitselfwith.Also,closertothe2004elections,in
ordertowoowaveringvoters,anothervictoryinthe"WaronTerror"mightbecomenecessary.Syriais
beingfattenedforthekill.
ItwasHermanGoering,thatoldNazi,whosaid,"Peoplecanalwaysbebroughttothebiddingofthe
leaders.Allyouhavetodoistellthemthey'rebeingattackedanddenouncethepacifistsforalackof
patriotismandexposingthecountrytodanger.Itworksthesamewayinanycountry."
He'sright.It'sdeadeasy.That'swhattheBushregimebankson.Thedistinctionbetweenelection
campaignsandwar,betweendemocracyandoligarchy,seemstobeclosingfast.
TheonlycaveatinthesecampaignwarsisthatU.S.livesmustnotbelost.Itshakesvoterconfidence.
ButtheproblemofU.S.soldiersbeingkilledincombathasbeenlicked.Moreorless.
AtamediabriefingbeforeOperationShockandAwewasunleashed,GeneralTommyFranks
announced,"Thiscampaignwillbelikenootherinhistory."Maybehe'sright.
I'mnomilitaryhistorian,butwhenwasthelasttimeawarwasfoughtlikethis?
Afterusingthe"goodoffices"ofUNdiplomacy(economicsanctionsandweaponsinspections)to
ensurethatIraqwasbroughttoitsknees,itspeoplestarved,halfamillionchildrendead,its
infrastructureseverelydamaged,aftermakingsurethatmostofitsweaponshadbeendestroyed,inan
actofcowardicethatmustsurelybeunrivalledinhistory,the"CoalitionoftheWilling"(betterknown
astheCoalitionoftheBulliedandBought)sentinaninvadingarmy!
OperationIraqiFreedom?Idon'tthinkso.ItwasmorelikeOperationLet'sRunaRace,butFirstLet
MeBreakYourKnees.
Assoonasthewarbegan,thegovernmentsofFrance,Germany,andRussia,whichrefusedtoallowa
finalresolutionlegitimizingthewartobepassedintheUNSecurityCouncil,fellovereachotherto
sayhowmuchtheywantedtheUnitedStatestowin.PresidentJacquesChiracofferedFrenchairspace
totheAngloAmericanairforce.U.S.militarybasesinGermanywereopenforbusiness.German
ForeignMinisterJoschkaFischerpubliclyhopedforthe"rapidcollapse"oftheSaddamHussein
regime.VladimirPutinpubliclyhopedforthesame.Thesearegovernmentsthatcolludedinthe
enforceddisarmingofIraqbeforetheirdastardlyrushtotakethesideofthosewhoattackedit.Apart
fromhopingtosharethespoils,theyhopedEmpirewouldhonortheirprewaroilcontractswithIraq.
OnlytheverynavecouldexpectoldImperialiststobehaveotherwise.
LeavingasidethecheapthrillsandtheloftymoralspeechesmadeintheUNduringtherunuptothe
war,eventually,atthemomentofcrisis,theunityofWesterngovernmentsdespitetheoppositionfrom
themajorityoftheirpeoplewasoverwhelming.
WhentheTurkishgovernmenttemporarilybowedtotheviewsof90percentofitspopulation,and
turneddowntheU.S.government'sofferofbillionsofdollarsofbloodmoneyfortheuseofTurkish
soil,itwasaccusedoflacking"democraticprinciples."AccordingtoaGallupInternationalpoll,inno
Europeancountrywassupportforawarcarriedout"unilaterallybyAmericaanditsallies"higherthan
11percent.ButthegovernmentsofEngland,Italy,Spain,Hungary,andothercountriesofEastern
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Europewerepraisedfordisregardingtheviewsofthemajorityoftheirpeopleandsupportingthe
illegalinvasion.That,presumably,wasfullyinkeepingwithdemocraticprinciples.What'sitcalled?
NewDemocracy?(LikeBritain'sNewLabour?)
Instarkcontrasttothevenalitydisplayedbytheirgovernments,onthe15thofFebruary,weeksbefore
theinvasion,inthemostspectaculardisplayofpublicmoralitytheworldhaseverseen,morethan10
millionpeoplemarchedagainstthewaron5continents.Manyofyou,I'msure,wereamongthem.
Theyweweredisregardedwithutterdisdain.Whenaskedtoreacttotheantiwardemonstrations,
PresidentBushsaid,"It'slikedeciding,well,I'mgoingtodecidepolicybaseduponafocusgroup.The
roleofaleaderistodecidepolicybaseduponthesecurity,inthiscasethesecurityofthepeople."
Democracy,themodernworld'sholycow,isincrisis.Andthecrisisisaprofoundone.Everykindof
outrageisbeingcommittedinthenameofdemocracy.Ithasbecomelittlemorethanahollowword,a
prettyshell,emptiedofallcontentormeaning.Itcanbewhateveryouwantittobe.Democracyisthe
FreeWorld'swhore,willingtodressup,dressdown,willingtosatisfyawholerangeoftaste,available
tobeusedandabusedatwill.
Untilquiterecently,rightuptothe1980's,democracydidseemasthoughitmightactuallysucceedin
deliveringadegreeofrealsocialjustice.
Butmoderndemocracieshavebeenaroundforlongenoughforneoliberalcapitaliststolearnhowto
subvertthem.Theyhavemasteredthetechniqueofinfiltratingtheinstrumentsofdemocracythe
"independent"judiciary,the"free"press,theparliamentandmoldingthemtotheirpurpose.The
projectofcorporateglobalizationhascrackedthecode.Freeelections,afreepress,andanindependent
judiciarymeanlittlewhenthefreemarkethasreducedthemtocommoditiesonsaletothehighest
bidder.
TofullycomprehendtheextenttowhichDemocracyisundersiege,itmightbeanideatolookatwhat
goesoninsomeofourcontemporarydemocracies.TheWorld'sLargest:India,(whichIhavewritten
aboutatsomelengthandthereforewillnotspeakabouttonight).TheWorld'sMostInteresting:South
Africa.Theworld'smostpowerful:theU.S.A.And,mostinstructiveofall,theplansthatarebeing
madetousherintheworld'snewest:Iraq.
InSouthAfrica,after300yearsofbrutaldominationoftheblackmajoritybyawhiteminoritythrough
colonialismandapartheid,anonracial,multipartydemocracycametopowerin1994.Itwasa
phenomenalachievement.Withintwoyearsofcomingtopower,theAfricanNationalCongresshad
genuflectedwithnocaveatstotheMarketGod.Itsmassiveprogramofstructuraladjustment,
privatization,andliberalizationhasonlyincreasedthehideousdisparitiesbetweentherichandthe
poor.Morethanamillionpeoplehavelosttheirjobs.Thecorporatizationofbasicserviceselectricity,
water,andhousinghasmeantthat10millionSouthAfricans,almostaquarterofthepopulation,have
beendisconnectedfromwaterandelectricity.2millionhavebeenevictedfromtheirhomes.
Meanwhile,asmallwhiteminoritythathasbeenhistoricallyprivilegedbycenturiesofbrutal
exploitationismoresecurethaneverbefore.Theycontinuetocontroltheland,thefarms,thefactories,
andtheabundantnaturalresourcesofthatcountry.Forthemthetransitionfromapartheidtoneo
liberalismbarelydisturbedthegrass.It'sapartheidwithacleanconscience.Anditgoesbythenameof
Democracy.
DemocracyhasbecomeEmpire'seuphemismforneoliberalcapitalism.
Incountriesofthefirstworld,too,themachineryofdemocracyhasbeeneffectivelysubverted.
Politicians,mediabarons,judges,powerfulcorporatelobbies,andgovernmentofficialsareimbricated
inanelaborateunderhandconfigurationthatcompletelyunderminesthelateralarrangementofchecks
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andbalancesbetweentheconstitution,courtsoflaw,parliament,theadministrationand,perhapsmost
importantofall,theindependentmediathatformthestructuralbasisofaparliamentarydemocracy.
Increasingly,theimbricationisneithersubtlenorelaborate.
ItalianPrimeMinisterSilvioBerlusconi,forinstance,hasacontrollinginterestinmajorItalian
newspapers,magazines,televisionchannels,andpublishinghouses.TheFinancialTimesreportedthat
hecontrolsabout90percentofItaly'sTVviewership.Recently,duringatrialonbriberycharges,while
insistinghewastheonlypersonwhocouldsaveItalyfromtheleft,hesaid,"HowmuchlongerdoI
havetokeeplivingthislifeofsacrifices?"Thatbodesillfortheremaining10percentofItaly'sTV
viewership.WhatpriceFreeSpeech?FreeSpeechforwhom?
IntheUnitedStates,thearrangementismorecomplex.ClearChannelWorldwideIncorporatedisthe
largestradiostationownerinthecountry.Itrunsmorethan1,200channels,whichtogetheraccountfor
9percentofthemarket.ItsCEOcontributedhundredsofthousandsofdollarstoBush'selection
campaign.WhenhundredsofthousandsofAmericancitizenstooktothestreetstoprotestagainstthe
waronIraq,ClearChannelorganizedprowarpatriotic"RalliesforAmerica"acrossthecountry.It
useditsradiostationstoadvertisetheeventsandthensentcorrespondentstocoverthemasthoughthey
werebreakingnews.Theeraofmanufacturingconsenthasgivenwaytotheeraofmanufacturing
news.Soonmedianewsroomswilldropthepretense,andstarthiringtheatredirectorsinsteadof
journalists.
AsAmerica'sshowbusinessgetsmoreandmoreviolentandwarlike,andAmerica'swarsgetmore
andmorelikeshowbusiness,someinterestingcrossoversaretakingplace.Thedesignerwhobuiltthe
250,000dollarsetinQatarfromwhichGeneralTommyFranksstagemanagednewscoverageof
OperationShockandAwealsobuiltsetsforDisney,MGM,and"GoodMorningAmerica."
ItisacruelironythattheU.S.,whichhasthemostardent,vociferousdefendersoftheideaofFree
Speech,and(untilrecently)themostelaboratelegislationtoprotectit,hassocircumscribedthespace
inwhichthatfreedomcanbeexpressed.Inastrange,convolutedway,thesoundandfurythat
accompaniesthelegalandconceptualdefenseofFreeSpeechinAmericaservestomasktheprocessof
therapiderosionofthepossibilitiesofactuallyexercisingthatfreedom.
ThenewsandentertainmentindustryintheU.S.isforthemostpartcontrolledbyafewmajor
corporationsAOLTimeWarner,Disney,Viacom,NewsCorporation.Eachofthesecorporations
ownsandcontrolsTVstations,filmstudios,recordcompanies,andpublishingventures.Effectively,
theexitsaresealed.
America'smediaempireiscontrolledbyatinycoterieofpeople.ChairmanoftheFederal
CommunicationsCommissionMichaelPowell,thesonofSecretaryofStateColinPowell,has
proposedevenfurtherderegulationofthecommunicationindustry,whichwillleadtoevengreater
consolidation.
SohereitistheWorld'sGreatestDemocracy,ledbyamanwhowasnotlegallyelected.America's
SupremeCourtgiftedhimhisjob.WhatpricehaveAmericanpeoplepaidforthisspuriouspresidency?
InthethreeyearsofGeorgeBushtheLesser'sterm,theAmericaneconomyhaslostmorethantwo
millionjobs.Outlandishmilitaryexpenses,corporatewelfare,andtaxgiveawaystotherichhave
createdafinancialcrisisfortheU.S.educationalsystem.AccordingtoasurveybytheNational
CouncilofStateLegislatures,U.S.statescut49billiondollarsinpublicservices,health,welfare
benefits,andeducationin2002.Theyplantocutanother25.7billiondollarsthisyear.Thatmakesa
totalof75billiondollars.Bush'sinitialbudgetrequesttoCongresstofinancethewarinIraqwas80
billiondollars.
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Sowho'spayingforthewar?America'spoor.Itsstudents,itsunemployed,itssinglemothers,its
hospitalandhomecarepatients,itsteachers,andhealthworkers.
Andwho'sactuallyfightingthewar?
Onceagain,America'spoor.ThesoldierswhoarebakinginIraq'sdesertsunarenotthechildrenofthe
rich.OnlyoneofalltherepresentativesintheHouseofRepresentativesandtheSenatehasachild
fightinginIraq.America's"volunteer"armyinfactdependsonapovertydraftofpoorwhites,Blacks,
Latinos,andAsianslookingforawaytoearnalivingandgetaneducation.Federalstatisticsshowthat
AfricanAmericansmakeup21percentofthetotalarmedforcesand29percentoftheU.S.army.They
countforonly12percentofthegeneralpopulation.It'sironic,isn'titthedisproportionatelyhigh
representationofAfricanAmericansinthearmyandprison?Perhapsweshouldtakeapositiveview,
andlookatthisasaffirmativeactionatitsmosteffective.Nearly4millionAmericans(2percentofthe
population)havelosttherighttovotebecauseoffelonyconvictions.Ofthatnumber,1.4millionare
AfricanAmericans,whichmeansthat13percentofallvotingageBlackpeoplehavebeen
disenfranchised.
ForAfricanAmericansthere'salsoaffirmativeactionindeath.AstudybytheeconomistAmartyaSen
showsthatAfricanAmericansasagrouphavealowerlifeexpectancythanpeopleborninChina,in
theIndianStateofKerala(whereIcomefrom),SriLanka,orCostaRica.Bangladeshimenhavea
betterchanceofmakingittotheageoffortythanAfricanAmericanmenfromhereinHarlem.
Thisyear,onwhatwouldhavebeenDr.MartinLutherKing,Jr.'s74thbirthday,PresidentBush
denouncedtheUniversityofMichigan'saffirmativeactionprogramfavouringBlacksandLatinos.He
calledit"divisive,""unfair,"and"unconstitutional."ThesuccessfulefforttokeepBlacksoffthevoting
rollsintheStateofFloridainorderthatGeorgeBushbeelectedwasofcourseneitherunfairnor
unconstitutional.Idon'tsupposeaffirmativeactionforWhiteBoysFromYaleeveris.
Soweknowwho'spayingforthewar.Weknowwho'sfightingit.Butwhowillbenefitfromit?Whois
hominginonthereconstructioncontractsestimatedtobeworthuptoonehundredbillondollars?
CoulditbeAmerica'spoorandunemployedandsick?CoulditbeAmerica'ssinglemothers?Or
America'sBlackandLatinominorities?
OperationIraqiFreedom,GeorgeBushassuresus,isaboutreturningIraqioiltotheIraqipeople.That
is,returningIraqioiltotheIraqipeopleviaCorporateMultinationals.LikeBechtel,likeChevron,like
Halliburton.
Onceagain,itisasmall,tightcirclethatconnectscorporate,military,andgovernmentleadershipto
oneanother.Thepromiscuousness,thecrosspollinationisoutrageous.
Considerthis:theDefensePolicyBoardisagovernmentappointedgroupthatadvisesthePentagon.Its
membersareappointedbytheundersecretaryofdefenseandapprovedbyDonaldRumsfeld.Its
meetingsareclassified.Noinformationisavailableforpublicscrutiny.
TheWashingtonbasedCenterforPublicIntegrityfoundthat9outofthe30membersoftheDefense
PolicyBoardareconnectedtocompaniesthatwereawardeddefensecontractsworth76billiondollars
betweentheyears2001and2002.Oneofthem,JackSheehan,aretiredMarineCorpsgeneral,isa
seniorvicepresidentatBechtel,thegiantinternationalengineeringoutfit.RileyBechtel,thecompany
chairman,isonthePresident'sExportCouncil.FormerSecretaryofStateGeorgeShultz,whoisalso
ontheBoardofDirectorsoftheBechtelGroup,isthechairmanoftheadvisoryboardoftheCommittee
fortheLiberationofIraq.WhenaskedbytheNewYorkTimeswhetherhewasconcernedaboutthe
appearanceofaconflictofinterest,hesaid,"Idon'tknowthatBechtelwouldparticularlybenefitfrom
it.Butifthere'sworktobedone,Bechtelisthetypeofcompanythatcoulddoit."
Bechtelhasbeenawardeda680milliondollarreconstructioncontractinIraq.AccordingtotheCenter
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forResponsivePolitics,BechtelcontributedhundredsofthousandsofdollarstoRepublicancampaign
efforts.
Arcingacrossthissubterfuge,dwarfingitbythesheermagnitudeofitsmalevolence,isAmerica'santi
terrorismlegislation.TheU.S.A.PatriotAct,passedinOctober2001,hasbecometheblueprintfor
similarantiterrorismbillsincountriesacrosstheworld.ItwaspassedintheHouseofRepresentatives
byamajorityvoteof337to79.AccordingtotheNewYorkTimes,"Manylawmakerssaidithadbeen
impossibletotrulydebateorevenreadthelegislation."
ThePatriotActushersinaneraofsystemicautomatedsurveillance.Itgivesthegovernmentthe
authoritytomonitorphonesandcomputersandspyonpeopleinwaysthatwouldhaveseemed
completelyunacceptableafewyearsago.ItgivestheFBIthepowertoseizeallofthecirculation,
purchasing,andotherrecordsoflibraryusersandbookstorecustomersonthesuspicionthattheyare
partofaterroristnetwork.Itblurstheboundariesbetweenspeechandcriminalactivitycreatingthe
spacetoconstrueactsofcivildisobedienceasviolatingthelaw.
Alreadyhundredsofpeoplearebeingheldindefinitelyas"unlawfulcombatants."(InIndia,thenumber
isinthethousands.InIsrael,5,000Palestiniansarenowbeingdetained.)Noncitizens,ofcourse,have
norightsatall.Theycansimplybe"disappeared"likethepeopleofChileunderWashington'soldally,
GeneralPinochet.Morethan1,000people,manyofthemMuslimorofMiddleEasternorigin,have
beendetained,somewithoutaccesstolegalrepresentatives.
Apartfrompayingtheactualeconomiccostsofwar,Americanpeoplearepayingforthesewarsof
"liberation"withtheirownfreedoms.FortheordinaryAmerican,thepriceof"NewDemocracy"in
othercountriesisthedeathofrealdemocracyathome.
Meanwhile,Iraqisbeinggroomedfor"liberation."(Ordidtheymean"liberalization"allalong?)The
WallStreetJournalreportsthat"theBushadministrationhasdraftedsweepingplanstoremakeIraq's
economyintheU.S.image."
Iraq'sconstitutionisbeingredrafted.Itstradelaws,taxlaws,andintellectualpropertylawsrewrittenin
ordertoturnitintoanAmericanstylecapitalisteconomy.
TheUnitedStatesAgencyforInternationalDevelopmenthasinvitedU.S.companiestobidfor
contractsthatrangebetweenroadbuilding,watersystems,textbookdistribution,andcellphone
networks.
SoonafterBushtheSecondannouncedthathewantedAmericanfarmerstofeedtheworld,Dan
Amstutz,aformerseniorexecutiveofCargill,thebiggestgrainexporterintheworld,wasputincharge
ofagriculturalreconstructioninIraq.KevinWatkins,Oxfam'spolicydirector,said,"PuttingDan
AmstutzinchargeofagriculturalreconstructioninIraqislikeputtingSaddamHusseininthechairofa
humanrightscommission."
ThetwomenwhohavebeenshortlistedtorunoperationsformanagingIraqioilhaveworkedwith
Shell,BP,andFluor.FluorisembroiledinalawsuitbyblackSouthAfricanworkerswhohaveaccused
thecompanyofexploitingandbrutalizingthemduringtheapartheidera.Shell,ofcourse,iswell
knownforitsdevastationoftheOgonitriballandsinNigeria.
TomBrokaw(oneofAmerica'sbestknownTVanchors)wasinadvertentlysuccinctabouttheprocess.
"Oneofthethingswedon'twanttodo,"hesaid,"istodestroytheinfrastructureofIraqbecauseina
fewdayswe'regoingtoownthatcountry."
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Nowthattheownershipdeedsarebeingsettled,IraqisreadyforNewDemocracy.
So,asLeninusedtoask:WhatIsToBeDone?
Well
Wemightaswellacceptthefactthatthereisnoconventionalmilitaryforcethatcansuccessfully
challengetheAmericanwarmachine.TerroriststrikesonlygivetheU.S.Governmentanopportunity
thatitiseagerlyawaitingtofurthertightenitsstranglehold.Withindaysofanattackyoucanbetthat
PatriotIIwouldbepassed.ToargueagainstU.S.militaryaggressionbysayingthatitwillincreasethe
possibilitiesofterroriststrikesisfutile.It'slikethreateningBrerRabbitthatyou'llthrowhimintothe
bramblebush.AnyonewhohasreadthedocumentswrittenbyTheProjectfortheNewAmerican
Centurycanattesttothat.Thegovernment'ssuppressionoftheCongressionalcommitteereporton
September11th,whichfoundthattherewasintelligencewarningofthestrikesthatwasignored,also
atteststothefactthat,foralltheirposturing,theterroristsandtheBushregimemightaswellbe
workingasateam.Theybothholdpeopleresponsiblefortheactionsoftheirgovernments.Theyboth
believeinthedoctrineofcollectiveguiltandcollectivepunishment.Theiractionsbenefiteachother
greatly.
TheU.S.governmenthasalreadydisplayedinnouncertaintermstherangeandextentofitscapability
forparanoidaggression.Inhumanpsychology,paranoidaggressionisusuallyanindicatorofnervous
insecurity.Itcouldbearguedthatit'snodifferentinthecaseofthepsychologyofnations.Empireis
paranoidbecauseithasasoftunderbelly.
Its"homeland"maybedefendedbyborderpatrolsandnuclearweapons,butitseconomyisstrungout
acrosstheglobe.Itseconomicoutpostsareexposedandvulnerable.AlreadytheInternetisbuzzing
withelaboratelistsofAmericanandBritishgovernmentproductsandcompaniesthatshouldbe
boycotted.ApartfromtheusualtargetsCoke,Pepsi,McDonaldsgovernmentagencieslikeUSAID,
theBritishDFID,BritishandAmericanbanks,ArthurAndersen,MerrillLynch,andAmericanExpress
couldfindthemselvesundersiege.Theselistsarebeinghonedandrefinedbyactivistsacrossthe
world.Theycouldbecomeapracticalguidethatdirectstheamorphousbutgrowingfuryintheworld.
Suddenly,the"inevitability"oftheprojectofCorporateGlobalizationisbeginningtoseemmorethana
littleevitable.
ItwouldbenavetoimaginethatwecandirectlyconfrontEmpire.Ourstrategymustbetoisolate
Empire'sworkingpartsanddisablethemonebyone.Notargetistoosmall.Novictorytoo
insignificant.Wecouldreversetheideaoftheeconomicsanctionsimposedonpoorcountriesby
EmpireanditsAllies.WecouldimposearegimeofPeoples'Sanctionsoneverycorporatehousethat
hasbeenawardedwithacontractinpostwarIraq,justasactivistsinthiscountryandaroundtheworld
targetedinstitutionsofapartheid.Eachoneofthemshouldbenamed,exposed,andboycotted.Forced
outofbusiness.ThatcouldbeourresponsetotheShockandAwecampaign.Itwouldbeagreat
beginning.
Anotherurgentchallengeistoexposethecorporatemediafortheboardroombulletinthatitreallyis.
Weneedtocreateauniverseofalternativeinformation.Weneedtosupportindependentmedialike
DemocracyNow!,AlternativeRadio,andSouthEndPress.
Thebattletoreclaimdemocracyisgoingtobeadifficultone.Ourfreedomswerenotgrantedtousby
anygovernments.Theywerewrestedfromthembyus.Andoncewesurrenderthem,thebattleto
retrievethemiscalledarevolution.Itisabattlethatmustrangeacrosscontinentsandcountries.Itmust
notacknowledgenationalboundariesbut,ifitistosucceed,ithastobeginhere.InAmerica.Theonly
institutionmorepowerfulthantheU.S.governmentisAmericancivilsociety.Therestofusare
subjectsofslavenations.Wearebynomeanspowerless,butyouhavethepowerofproximity.You
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haveaccesstotheImperialPalaceandtheEmperor'schambers.Empire'sconquestsarebeingcarried
outinyourname,andyouhavetherighttorefuse.Youcouldrefusetofight.Refusetomovethose
missilesfromthewarehousetothedock.Refusetowavethatflag.Refusethevictoryparade.
Youhavearichtraditionofresistance.YouneedonlyreadHowardZinn'sAPeople'sHistoryofthe
UnitedStatestoremindyourselfofthis.
Hundredsofthousandsofyouhavesurvivedtherelentlesspropagandayouhavebeensubjectedto,and
areactivelyfightingyourowngovernment.IntheultrapatrioticclimatethatprevailsintheUnited
States,that'sasbraveasanyIraqiorAfghanorPalestinianfightingforhisorherhomeland.
Ifyoujointhebattle,notinyourhundredsofthousands,butinyourmillions,youwillbegreeted
joyouslybytherestoftheworld.Andyouwillseehowbeautifulitistobegentleinsteadofbrutal,
safeinsteadofscared.Befriendedinsteadofisolated.Lovedinsteadofhated.
Ihatetodisagreewithyourpresident.Yoursisbynomeansagreatnation.Butyoucouldbeagreat
people.
Historyisgivingyouthechance.
Seizethetime.
ARUNDHATIROY
PresentedinNewYorkCityatTheRiversideChurch
May13,2003
Copyright2003
SponsoredbytheCenterforEconomicandSocialRights

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