Does the world only have the great Noam Chomsky to tell us the truth?
KARACHI: Sadly, the microscope missed the elephant in the room. The Express Tribune, in a July 9 editorial titled “The Chilcot microscope”, praised the Chilcot report as “An example of diligence and accountability almost like no other in modern times.” Do we realise that after seven years (thirteen since the war) and 2.6 million words (equal to 3 Bibles), there was no room for even one Iraqi voice? With the Nuremberg Trials before us, there is no reference to the war of aggression (“the paramount war crime from which all other war crimes emanate”), no reference to the millions killed, wounded, and who are now refugees, coming to roost in Europe. Numerous politicians, civil servants, generals and media personnel are directly involved in this crime of the century involving Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen and Libya. Are these conclusions only reserved for the Germans and Japanese post-Second World War, or Saddam, Gadaffi, and the African leaders?
I request that the editor as well as readers to refer to Robert Fisk’s article “I’m already tired of the ‘lessons’ of Chilcot” (The Independent, July 7, 2016), Brendan O’ Neil’s “Chilcot: the worst kind of whitewash” (Spiked-Online, July 6, 2016), “John Pilger on why the invasion of Iraq is the crime of the century” (New Statesman, December 10, 2009) and Garikai Chengu’s “From Churchill to Blair” (Counterpunch, December 10, 2009). With such overwhelming historical evidence we have no excuse for writing such an anodyne editorial.
Did we really need Chilcot to tell us about justice, crime, and punishment? He has taken seven years to tell us that he is unable to tell us. The fundamental question is: is it a war of aggression or not? Who is guilty and what needs to be done to them, for Iraq’s sake? These secrets are known to every Iraqi child and anyone with a modicum of common sense.
Would Chilcot conclude the same for the ‘Nazi occupation’ of Britain? Does the world only have the great Noam Chomsky to tell us the truth? Are Blair and Brown free to enjoy their blood money? Even Chilcot is mesmerised by intelligence failure. Have we forgotten David Kelly’s death so soon, or Colin Powell’s pathetic lies to the Security Council? Chilcot laments Britain’s first invasion since WW2. The world was persuaded to accept the occupation of Palestine, Kashmir and Chechnya; the heart of the Muslim world, wrenched out, lies bleeding from Libya across West Asia to Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. Yet there is no law to try Bush or Blair. Meanwhile it is alright to carry out drone attacks and make songs about Crimea, Ukraine and the South China Sea. Do we need Orwell to tell us about double standards, hypocrisy and deceit? If Seumas Milne does not lead the resistance to tyranny and injustice, who will? If not now, then when?
Jafar Khan
Published in The Express Tribune, July 21st, 2016.
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