Operation Iraqi Freedom rings hollow now

WHAT more do we expect the Iraqis to endure under the occupation? Thousands have been jailed and held without formal charge or visits from families and lawyers.

Some of these are minors who were taken prisoner simply for breaking the curfew imposed by the coalition forces. Amnesty International has listed over 80 cases of boys as young as 11 being jailed.

The recent photos graphically depict the psychological and sexual torture of Iraqi civilians. This practice is barbaric and can only add to the resentment of Iraqis towards the occupation.

President George W Bush's words about freedom and democracy for all now ring hollow.

It seems that the occupation forces view Iraq as a battle space, and have little recognition that the people are traumatised and angry, emerging from years of repression and now dealing with armed occupiers mostly scared young troops who treat them with suspicion and too quickly resort to overwhelming force.

Iraqis still live in fear of midnight raids by soldiers to take a family member away. The difference is that this time the soldiers wear foreign uniforms and speak a foreign language.

The last thing the Iraqi people need now is another iron-fist approach.

In a country damaged by war and occupied by 145,000 troops and 16,000 hired mercenaries, life is hard and dangerous.

Instead of having clean water, reliable electricity, elections and jobs, the Iraqi people have a war zone. They must be allowed to set their own future without a US puppet government. On June 30, limited power will be transferred to a regime chosen by Washington, backed up by tanks and guns this is hardly designed to create trust among the Iraqi people.

Tim Hourigan,

PRO,

Anti-War Ireland,

12, Cedar Court,

Kennedy Park,

Limerick.