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Thread ID: 31386	2003-03-20 07:02:00	OT: If good men do nothing:	Billy T (70)	Press F1

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129637	2003-03-20 07:02:00	"All that is needed for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing . " When Germany rearmed after WW1 in defiance of the conditions of the Armstice: Nobody did anything . When Germany built fleets of fast "commercial" aircaft (AKA bombers and fighters) during the 30's in defiance of the conditions of the Armstice: Nobody did anything . When Germany reoccupied the Rhineland in defiance of the conditions of the Armstice: Nobody did anything . When Krupps recommenced munitions manufacturing in defiance of the conditions of the Armstice: Nobody did anything . Neville Chamberlain (Britain's PM at the time) flew to Munich to negotiate with the Fuhrer (Hitler) and came back claiming Britain's concessions had bought "Peace in our time" Hitler interpreted Britain's talk of peace as tacit approval to continue with his expansionist policies and invaded Poland, then Czechoslovakia . Part of the world woke up and fought back, alone and at great cost . Many good men died to defend our freedoms . Two dark years later, Japan attacked the US base at Pearl Harbour and the US woke up . Over the next four years, many more good men died to give us the freedoms we enjoy today . Some of the good men did bad things, many of the bad men did worse . Fast-forward 46 years: Saddam Hussein believes that he has been granted "privileges" by the US and Iraq attacks Kuwait as its "reward" America and allies come to the aid of Kuwait and free Kuwait of the Iraqi occupation . More good men died . Some of the good men did bad things, many of the bad men did worse . Over the next 12 years Iraq builds up its army and defences, and suppresses internal dissent . "Internal dissent" means not being a Sunni Arab or not supporting the Baath party . Weapons of mass destruction are used against Iraqi opposition groups, killing men women and children . There is a certain inevitability in that progression, and perhaps the hour of the good men has come again . The good men may not be 100% the right time, and their actions may not be 100% right 100% of the time, but it is a time when action is required, before biological or chemical weapons are turned loose on more innocent people . A salutory tale: "They came for the Communists, but I wasn't a Communist - so I didn't object; They came for the Socialists, but I wasn't a Socialist - so I didn't object; They came for the trade union leaders, but I wasn't a trade union leader - so I didn't object; They came for the homosexuals, but I wasn't a homosexual - so I didn't object; They came for the Gypsies, but I wasn't a Gypsy - so I didn't object; They came for the Jews, but I wasn't a Jew - so I didn't object; Then they came for me - and there was no one left to object . " Attributed to Martin Niemoeller during World War II It is always easy to sit in judgement when you do not have to make the decisions, do not have to face the consequences, and can sleep safely in your bed at night; thanks to all the good men who went before, many of whom never returned . Sometimes peace has to be fought for, and that is rarely a populist decision . Posted as one valid perspective on events in the Gulf . by Billy T :|	Billy T (70)
129638	2003-03-20 07:24:00	I've just been hunting around the web for a less . . . er mainstream/American source (OK, it's All properganda . . but) and i came across this, which says a little about the confusions that those living in Iraq will currently be facing . A Letter from Northern Iraq Dr . Ali Sindi, March 19, 2003 The following is an email from an Iraqi doctor in Kurdish-controlled Northern Iraq: The American ultimatum and the beginning of the Kurdish year! Tonight the weather is very windy . The Kurds believe that the winds are the best protection against the chemical and biological weapons, especially if it is associated with rains (showers) . It is like that tonight . Are the Kurds lucky this time? I hope so because we don't have masks/vaccines? Every year in the 21st of March the Kurds celebrate Newroz . It is the beginning of the Kurdish year . We share this event with the Persians (nearly all the Arians share the event) . The most important thing to do in Newroz is to flare a fire . This goes back to Zoroastrianism (the ancient religion of the Kurds and Persians) . Briefly Newroz is the days were the Kurds apprised and led by "Kawa" the smith . The Kurdish story says that in such a day Kawa killed Zohak thousands of years ago . Zohak used to drink the blood of 2 children every day . He was addict to that and did it for years . One day the people decided to withstand what is happening to their kids and Kawa was the man to lead them? That is Newroz! I am not going to judge which part of this story is true and which one is imagination but I know for sure that today there is a "Zohak" in Baghdad . Probably similar stories exist under different names in different places and thus it does not matter Who is Kawa but the principle matters . President Bush mentioned last night that the day for the Iraqis to be librated is very close and it is true . I am an Iraqi and I hope it will happen very soon . The situation here is silent . Although people evacuated the cities near the front lines with Iraqi troops but overall people are optimistic . All the news/expectations here are saying that the war will be short . The focus of international media on the use of WMDs by Iraqi government in the Eighties and all the reports published during the last few days, reminded the people how much ignorant the international community could be and thus decided to take all the precautions by evacuating the big cities . Indeed even now no masks/vaccines/other prevention tools are available . Hopefully Saddam will not have the chance to use any thing . The security in this region has been completely under control . In Erbil where 30-40% of population has left, even no one theft was recorded during the last 24 hours, the police chief who is a friend of mine said . There are different stories/rumors from the Iraqi side?one of them is saying that a poor man started cheering a group of Iraqi soldiers (Republican guards) wearing the American troops uniform (a plan by Iraqi government to confuse the American troops) . The man thought that the Americans did arrive! He was hurrahing President Bush! Then he was arrested . Best regards, Ali Sindi source: www . gnn . tv . Clueless	Clueless (181)
129639	2003-03-20 08:15:00	Just widening the perspective a little, the terms and conditions of the armistice and the war reparations demanded by the allies in particular France, were so harsh and impracticable that the collapse of the Weimar Republic and a later conflict were made inevitable. The harshness of the terms were belatedly beggining to be recognised by some and that is just one reason why little action was taken when Germany began to disregard the terms. Fast forwarding as Billy indicated, again dont forget the Western allies including US, Britain and France were happy to supply Sadam with technology and equipment when he fought Iran. I wont make any further judgements, the world is too full of hypocrisy, misinformation, lies and damned lies, so that it is difficult to be balanced.	Terry Porritt (14)
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