Hans von Sponeck, former UN Human Rights Coordinator and deputy UN Assistant General Secretary responsible for the Iraq Oil for Food Program, said last weekend at the Munich Peace Conference: “You have to be either crazy or cold-hearted to see Iraq as a success.”
According to this article in Germany’s Neues Deutschland, Robert Gates should be heeding these words, especially in light of his visit recent surprise visit to Baghdad to congratulate the troops…
Apparently,
Human Rights Watch has just released a report where it was charged that the human rights situation has deteriorated in part due to the actions of US troops.
Perhaps worse still,
The supposed progress in Iraq will also be used as a pretext for redeploying military forces in the direction of southern Afghanistan. There, even the step-up in attacks attributed to al-Qaeda is explained as a sign of desperation for the terror network, as its macabre death throes.
Is there a pattern?
Read the German article in English translation on WATCHING AMERICA.com
Robin Koerner is a British-born citizen of the USA, who currently serves as Academic Dean of the John Locke Institute. He holds graduate degrees in both Physics and the Philosophy of Science from the University of Cambridge (U.K.). He is also the founder of WatchingAmerica.com, an organization of over 100 volunteers that translates and posts in English views about the USA from all over the world.
Robin may be best known for having coined the term “Blue Republican” to refer to liberals and independents who joined the GOP to support Ron Paul’s bid for the presidency in 2012 (and, in so doing, launching the largest coalition that existed for that candidate).
Robin’s current work as a trainer and a consultant, and his book If You Can Keep It , focus on overcoming distrust and bridging ideological division to improve politics and lives. His current project, Humilitarian, promotes humility and civility as a basis for improved political discourse and outcomes.