Barbarism in Iraq
That Saddam was a tyrant is beyond doubt. However, the systematic torture of Iraqi prisoners -- now exposed to the entire world to see -- by the coalition forces of occupation have shocked the world, and demolished the lie that this was a war for the human rights of the Iraqi people. Let us be clear. The excuses of British and US government officials that these are the criminal acts of 'rogue elements' or a few bad apples will cut no ice. Each new appalling photograph published demonstrates just how widespread this abuse is. In fact, these are not isolated crimes, but part and parcel of the philosophy of the war.
The invasion and occupation of Iraq was no war of liberation, but an act of naked aggression against what was supposed to be a sovereign state, leading to the forcible occupation of a country by foreign troops against the will of the people.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Facing the mounting resistance of the occupied people, a massive use of force is required to maintain control. The response of the coalition to the attempts of the Iraqi people to liberate themselves is typical. Send in more troops, kill more Iraqis, and torture those you capture.
In the twelve months since the US declared victory, 677 coalition personnel have been killed in Iraq 506 more than those killed in the war. It is probably unprecedented in modern history that the aftermath of a conflict has claimed four times as many lives as the conflict itself. The exact number of dead Iraqis is not known. Current estimates claim a figure of around 18,000 .
Each passing day brings new and more shocking revelations. Now it seems there are a further 1, 000 digital photographs to be published. As usual, the military only admits what cannot be denied. As we are now learning, these initial pictures represent only the tip of a vast and extremely ugly iceberg.
We have entered a new epoch, an epoch of a new struggle. We can only hope that the conscience of world citizens would be able to put an end to the barbaric outrages being perpetrated in this war, a barbarism which is inseparable from the war itself. We all shall look forward to those unvanquished men who retrace the path of conquest surmounting all barriers to win back the lost human heritage.