Look behind the propaganda

THE US claimed theirs was not a war about oil, yet they had plenty of resources to secure the oil fields; it was their first priority. They claimed their war went always according to plan. They said looting was entirely predictable, yet they had no plan much less resources to control it.

They said their war was waged for humanitarian reasons, yet they gave no protection to the hospitals and clinics. They said their war was to free Iraq and enhance its people, yet they gave no protection to museums, libraries and universities.

They claimed their war was all about security, their security, yet they ignored the security of the ordinary Iraqi people. They said their war was to eliminate weapons of mass destruction, yet none have been found. They said the oil belongs to Iraq, yet they spend its income freely. They said their war was not an economic war, yet they are giving out reconstruction contracts just to their own.

They said theirs was a war to bring democracy to Iraq, yet they ignored (or sidestepped) the democratic will of the UN. They said their war was to liberate Iraq from a dictator, yet they dictate to the UN how it should act. They said their war was last resort, yet it was planned six or seven years ago.

Kevin T Finn,

Kings Square,

Mitchelstown,

Co Cork,

Ireland.