Petraeus, Crocker and endless, illegal occupation

As General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker continue to con the Congress into funding the Iraq War, a complete withdrawal from Iraq by the next Republican or Democratic administration is highly unlikely—even though ongoing occupation will continue to grossly violate customary international law, U.S. treaty law, and the Article VI “Supremacy Clause” of the U.S. Constitution.

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The following annotated references address those legal issues and the current military, economic, political and humanitarian situation in Iraq:

1. Number Of Iraqis Slaughtered Since The U.S. Invaded Iraq “1,196,514”
http://www.justforeignpolicy.org/iraq/iraqdeaths.html [4/6/08]

2. Number of U.S. Military Personnel Sacrificed (Officially acknowledged) In America’s War On Iraq 4,017
http://icasualties.org/oif/ [4/6/08]

3. The War in Iraq Costs
$508,897,546,211
See the cost in your community
http://nationalpriorities.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=182 [4/6/08]

These are current direct costs, not total projected costs that may exceed $3 trillion.

4. Declaration of the Jury of Conscience World Tribunal on Iraq – Istanbul June 23 – 27, 2005
http://www.wagingpeace.org/articles/2005/06/27_jury-of-conscience-declar...

A bit outdated, but it still provides an excellent analysis of the illegalities of the occupation, and the legal and other actions that must be taken to end it and establish Iraqi sovereignty. The Declaration also notes that Iraq’s current government and constitution are illegal creations of the U.S. occupying force. For those who closely watched “Frontline: Bush’s War,” that reality became crystal clear. Elections which fully comply with international standards of freeness and fairness must finally be held to form a sovereign government and adopt a sovereign constitution.

5. UN warns of “very grave” problems in Iraq
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/04/05/2208659.htm

An aspect of “surge success” that continues to be largely ignored by the media and political establishment—and especially by Petraeus and Crocker.

6a. Kucinich introduces bill to immediately end Iraq occupation …
http://www.alternet.org/module/printversion/48622/?type=blog

6b. H.R. 1234: To end the United States occupation of Iraq immediately
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h110-1234

The term “immediately” has its logistical limits. But Kucinich’s bill still does the best job of respecting our Constitution and fostering the comprehensive actions that will be needed to heal a gravely wounded Iraq. It’s a legislative “yardstick” by which all troop withdrawal plans must be measured.

7. Ensuring Permanence: The Bush Administration Is Negotiating a Long-Term Iraq Occupation
http://washingtonindependent.com/view/ensuring-permanence

This effort—which reflects the original neocon intent to establish a client government and long-term U.S. presence in Iraq, and which Petraeus and Crocker are supporting—is the antithesis of H.R. 1234. It’s what Bush, Cheney and their cohorts define as “success.”

8. Obama and Hillary Spin a ‘Big Lie’ About Iraq
http://www.alternet.org/module/printversion/81251

Although Hillary, with Obama’s support, has introduced a bill that opposes Bush’s “Negotiating” effort, their respective troop withdrawal plans would enable an ongoing, illegal occupation of Iraq.

9. The Iraqi Civil War Bush and the Media Don’t Tell You About
http://www.alternet.org/module/printversion/80469

It dissects and rejects the Republican and Democratic rationales for remaining in Iraq.

10. Who Is Iraq’s “Firebrand Cleric”?
http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/printer_040108E.shtml

Muqtada al-Sadr, the most influential Shia nationalist and the most powerful opponent of U.S. occupation.

11. Five Things You Need to Know to Understand the Latest Violence in Iraq
http://www.alternet.org/module/printversion/80580

It further debunks the “success” of the “surge,” who’s aerial bombing and “ethnic cleansing” operations have grossly violated the Laws of War and have been a major producer of nearly 5 million internal and external refugees, most of them Sunnis. A result of Petraeus’ vaunted “counterinsurgency strategy” the mainstream media and members of Congress have largely ignored.

12. Petraeus Testimony to Defend False “Proxy War” Line
http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/04/07/8138/print/

This week’s Congressional testimony by Petraeus and Crocker has focused on Iran’s alleged illegal intervention in Iraq via a “rogue element” of Sadr’s Mahdi Army. Gareth Porter refutes that “Line” but ignores the fact that the U.S., U.K. and their “coalition of the willing” partners are illegal interveners.