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Is the Occupation of Iraq finally over ?

Mike Phipps
31st October 2011 at 21:36
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By Mike Phipps

The Occupation of Iraq is finally winding down, nearly nine years after America, Britain and others invaded. The last US troops are due out by the end of the year, under an agreement signed in the last days of George W. Bush’s presidency.

But, contrary to the impression created in the mainstream media, the US military elite applied considerable pressure for the deadline to be extended. Behind them stood the war profiteers who have made a lot of money out of Iraq’s misery.

Will all US troops leave by the end of 2011? Firstly, large numbers of western private military contractors will remain indefinitely. Secondly, the US Embassy in Baghdad is by far the largest in the world - one and a half square miles, big enough for 94 football fields. It cost three quarters of a billion dollars to build. Thirdly, unspecified numbers of “speical forces” will continue to operate in the country. And even if the number of ground troops is downsized, the US will continue to have unmanned Predator Drones at its disposal, which have been used to such deadly effect in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The Iraqi Government opposed an extension of the deadline for withdrawal, because the US wanted a continuation of the blanket immunity its troops have enjoyed for the last eight years.

It’s not surprising US officials wanted immunity. Everyone involved in this unjust war on Iraq could be tried for war crimes under international law. George Bush and Tony Blair lied about Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction and its ability to hit targets in Europe. These lies paved the way for aggression against a sovereign nation, which itself is an international war crime.

They are also guilty of violating the UN convention on torture at Abu Ghraib prison and elsewhere. Western forces killed hundreds of thousands of Iraqis. Millions of Iraqis have taken refuge in neighbouring countries. It’s unlikely Iraqis will ever get justice for the crimes committed against them - but those who did it still demand indefinite immunity.

The Occupation of Iraq will have long term consequences, in terms of destroyed infrastructure, displacement, cancer-causing munitions and deaths and injuries. While the west moves on to new conflicts, Iraqis will pick up be picking up the pieces for many years.

For more information, see http://justiceforiraq.blogspot.com/. To subscribe to Iraq Occupation Focus’s free fortnightly electronic newsletter, go to https://lists.riseup.net/www/info/iraqfocus.