US aggression ‘doubled’ after Iraq, but world is learning to stand up
https://sputniknews.com/20230320/anti-war-activist-us-doubled-aggression-after-iraq-but-world-is-learning-to-stand-up-1108619455.html
Anti-war activist: US ‘doubled down’ aggression after Iraq, but world is learning to stand up
Anti-war activist: US ‘doubled down’ aggression after Iraq, but world is learning to stand up
The United States not only learned nothing from the consequences of invading Iraq, it doubled down on its aggression against other countries through sanctions and proxy armies, although the world is learning finally to take a stand, said Joe, coordinator of the United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC). Lombardo told Sputnik.
2023-03-20T21:24+0000
2023-03-20T21:24+0000
2023-03-20T21:25+0000
20 years since the US invasion of Iraq
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On March 19, 2003, at 10:16 p.m. EST, President George W. Bush, in a televised address from the Oval Office, said that U.S. and coalition forces were in the early stages of military operations aimed at disarming the Iraq and to “liberate its people”. marking the start of an invasion and occupation that resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of civilians and combatants. Washington’s official reasons for the invasion, initially, were alleged links between Saddam Hussein and international terrorism, as well as CIA allegations of stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, allegations which turned out to be false. Following the invasion, Saddam was overthrown and executed, followed by years of war. “The United States has not changed and has doubled down on its aggression,” Lombardo said. “Although the American government seems to have learned little from Iraq, the American people learned that they did not want to see more wars like Iraq and Vietnam. This helped keep the hand of the United States, who had to rely more on sanctions and proxy armies to fight their battles.” ‘Watched in horror’ Lombardo shared that he had been an anti-war activist for many years, and during the US war in Vietnam he worked with the then anti-war coalitions against that war. “And when the United States invaded Iraq, I started organizing again,” he said. Lombardo recalled that just before the invasion of Iraq by the United States, millions of people took to the streets all over the world to protest, and he participated in the demonstration in New York of a half a million people. But the United States, he added, which had acquired exclusive hegemony and was at the time the only superpower in the world, felt it could ignore these protests and launched its invasion of Iraq. . Media coverage was limited and Western journalists were asked to “integrate” with the US military, Lombardo said. “Those who refused found their hotels were shot at, they were belittled in the American media, and some died for their efforts,” he said. Standing after the war, Lombardo pointed out, the United States has tried to pressure other countries through sanctions and proxy armies in places like Syria, Libya, Yemen and against Russia. in Ukraine. However, Lombardo said that if the United States is to stop interfering in the internal affairs of other countries, the world must also take a stand – and there are signs that it is happening. However, he added, alternatives to American domination are now emerging. “People are looking more eastward and options like China’s Belt and Road Initiative and even BRICS as an alternative to IMF and World Bank are now becoming available,” he said. The United States is losing its hegemonic grip on global economic structures and new strategic and economic alliances are being forged without the United States, he observed. “It will give countries around the world a way to challenge American economic and military control over their countries and the real opportunity for them to start developing,” Lombardo said.
https://sputniknews.com/20230320/the-us-learned-absolutely-nothing-from-iraq-1108602479.html
https://sputniknews.com/20230320/ex-iranian-deputy-ambassador-to-iraq-us-has-destroyed-all-iraqs-infrastructure-1108597938.html
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antiwar activist, us aggression, invasion of iraq, joe lombardo, proxy armies,
antiwar activist, us aggression, invasion of iraq, joe lombardo, proxy armies,
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The United States not only learned nothing from the consequences of invading Iraq, it doubled down on its aggression against other countries through sanctions and proxy armies, although may the world finally learn to take a stand, United National Antiwar Coalition UNAC coordinator Joe Lombardo told Sputnik.
On March 19, 2003, at 10:16 p.m. EST, President George W. Bush, in a televised address from the Oval Office, said that U.S. and coalition forces were in the early stages of military operations aimed at disarming the Iraq and to “liberate its people”. marking the start of an invasion and occupation that resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of civilians and combatants.
Washington’s official reasons for the invasion, initially, were alleged links between Saddam Hussein and international terrorism, as well as CIA allegations of stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, allegations which turned out to be false. Following the invasion, Saddam was overthrown and executed, followed by years of war.
“The United States has not changed and has doubled down on its aggression,” Lombardo said. “Although the American government seems to have learned little from Iraq, the American people learned that they did not want to see more wars like Iraq and Vietnam. This helped keep the hand of the United States, who had to rely more on sanctions and proxy armies to fight their battles.”
“Watched in Horror”
Dozens of countries have participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom at different times, including the UK, Italy, Poland and Australia. Within three weeks of the invasion, Iraqi civilians and US troops pulled down a statue of Saddam Hussein in Baghdad.
Although Bush declared “mission accomplished” in May 2003, the United States remained embroiled in fierce fighting that reportedly left more than 4,400 American soldiers dead before combat operations ended in 2011.
Lombardo shared that he had been an anti-war activist for many years, and during the US war in Vietnam he worked with the then anti-war coalitions against that war. “And when the United States invaded Iraq, I started organizing again,” he said.
Lombardo recalled that just before the invasion of Iraq by the United States, millions of people took to the streets all over the world to protest, and he participated in the demonstration in New York of a half a million people.
“Other actions have taken place across the United States and on every continent of the world, including Antarctica,” he noted. “Millions of people took to the streets of London, Paris, Rome, Tokyo and many other countries.”
But the United States, he added, which had acquired exclusive hegemony and was at the time the only superpower in the world, felt it could ignore these protests and launched its invasion of Iraq. .
“We watched and protested in horror as many things that are commonplace today began to happen in Iraq,” he continued. “We have seen ‘black sites’ and torture centers like Abu Ghraib in Iraq. The United States invaded Iraq with “Shock and Awe” and hundreds of thousands of people were killed.”
Media coverage was limited and Western journalists were asked to “integrate” with the US military, Lombardo said.
“Those who refused found their hotels had been shot at, they were belittled in the American media and some died for their efforts,” he added. he said.
Stay strong
After the war, Lombardo pointed out, the US tried to pressure other countries through sanctions and proxy armies in places like Syria, Libya, Yemen and against Russia in Ukraine. However, Lombardo said that if the United States is to stop interfering in the internal affairs of other countries, the world must also take a stand – and there are signs that it is happening.
“The world must learn that it can stand up to American intimidation, and countries that are sanctioned or attacked by the United States must come together and build alternatives to American economic, political, and military hegemony,” he said. Lombardo.
However, he added, alternatives to American domination are now emerging.
“People are looking more eastward and options like China’s Belt and Road Initiative and even BRICS as an alternative to IMF and World Bank are now becoming available,” he said.
The United States is losing its hegemonic grip on global economic structures and new strategic and economic alliances are being forged without the United States, he observed.
“It will give countries around the world a way to challenge American economic and military control over their countries and the real opportunity for them to start developing,” Lombardo said.
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