Bush says more violence possible in Iraq 

People's Daily (China) 2may04

graphic from photo by CBS '60 Minutes" More photos . .

One year after he declared the end of major combat operations in Iraq, US President George W. Bush on Saturday painted a somber picture, saying that more violence could lie ahead as the US-led coalition forces proceed with a plan to return sovereignty to Iraqis.

"As the transfer of sovereignty approaches on June 30, we are likely to see more violence from groups opposed to freedom," Bush said in his weekly radio address.

But he quickly vowed that the violence will not derail US efforts in Iraq. "We will not be intimidated or diverted. On July 1, and beyond, our reconstruction and military commitment will continue," he said.

Aware of domestic criticism of his administration's lack of a clear strategy in Iraq, Bush insisted his administration does have one.

He said there are two elements in the administration's strategy. "First, we will ensure an atmosphere of security as Iraqis move toward self-government," he said.

"The second element of our strategy is to return sovereignty to the people of Iraq on the schedule that we agreed to with the Iraqi Governing Council," he added.

Bush reiterated that he supports efforts by UN Special Envoy Lakhdar Brahimi to form an interim Iraqi government which is supposed to take over powers from the coalition occupation authority at the end of June.

source: http://english.peopledaily.com.cn//200405/02/eng20040502_142227.html 2may04

Mindfully.org note: 

That more violence is possible in Iraq is a gross understatement. At this point in time there are few who need Bush's thoughts regarding Iraq. As to the existence of a real plan, the Bush administration of course has none. It doesn't take but a glance at the simplistic plan described by Bush. 

"First, we will ensure an atmosphere of security as Iraqis move toward self-government. . . The second element of our strategy is to return sovereignty to the people of Iraq on the schedule that we agreed to with the Iraqi Governing Council." — from news conference 14apr04

Exactly how will the US ensure an atmosphere of security in the situation at hand in Iraq at present? It seems that the longer the US military-industrial complex is present, the longer and greater the atmosphere of death and destruction will prevail. 

The photo (right) is of a hooded US Army prisoner at Abu Ghraib prison, which was also used by Hussein for torture. He is standing on a box with wires attached to his hands, and was told that he would be electrocuted if he fell off the box. Most of the other photos aired by the CBS TV show 60 Minutes were of prisoners being forced to perform explicit sexual acts with one and other.

According to a US Army report The New Yorker magazine acquired, Iraqi detainees were subjected to "sadistic, blatant and wanton criminal abuses." Many of the sadistic acts of the US military on Iraqi prisoners bring back the images of Nazi concentration camps and the mutilation of prisoners that was labeled as medical research.

We know that when the US Army itself has charged some of its own with indecent acts with another person, maltreatment, battery, dereliction of duty and aggravated assault, that there is indeed a lot more that has occurred. The CIA has two longstanding probes into abuse of prisoners at Abu Ghraib, one of which was about the death of a prisoner there.

Scott McClellan, the White House spokesman, said Mr Bush had known about the abuse at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq "for a while". - The Telegraph (UK) 30apr04

One of the suspended soldiers, Staff Sergeant Chip Frederick, said the way the army ran the prison had led to the abuse. "We had no support, no training whatsoever," he told CBS. . . .US military officials hope the new Iraqi force, led by one of Saddam Hussein's former generals, will be able to gain the trust of residents. — BBC (UK) 30apr04

Please also read The New Yorker article "Torture at Abu Ghraib" 10may04 

So, do we think more violence is to be expected in Iraq? Yes, but mostly because of the presence of US military and US government-hired mercenaries.