By Greg
Rollins. Greg is a member of Christian Peacemaker Teams, an
organization that asks, "What would happen if Christians devoted the same discipline
and self-sacrifice to nonviolent peacemaking that armies devote to war?"
The Other Iraq was the one that had weapons of mass destruction. It was
the one that had nuclear laboratories on the backs of huge semi trucks
that could move around so the UN couldn’t find them. It was the Iraq
that purchased uranium from some African country. The Iraq that was
connected to Osama Bin Laden and Al Qaida and was some how connected to
the attacks on September 11. It was the Iraq that never had a problem
with depleted uranium. It was the Iraq that was a menace to freedom and
freedom loving nations throughout the world.
Today,
the Other Iraq is flourishing. It is the one that is now free from
oppression and fear. The city of Fallujah, in the Other Iraq, is safe
from insurgents. It is the Iraq where the militants that somehow gained
access across the borders are in their last throes. Any time now the
U.S. will defeat them. It is the Iraq that has elected a stable
government and that is creating a viable constitution where other Iraqi
citizens will be able to live in safety and freedom.
The Other
Iraq is the Iraq where the U.S. will be able to start reducing its
troop level by the end of the year. It is the Iraq that has an
abundance of water, electricity and jobs and the medical situation has
never been better. Reconstruction in the Other Iraq thrives. All the
money that goes to rebuilding the country finds its way into the local
economy. It is the Iraq that continuously welcomes the U.S. occupation.
It is the same country that has a well trained, honest and just
security forces that respect human rights. The same country where its
politicians are trustworthy.
In the Other Iraq they still don’t have a problem with depleted
uranium. In the Other Iraq only a handful of U.S. troops have committed
human rights violations against other Iraqi civilians and prisoners. In
the U.S. prisons in the Other Iraq, 90% of the prisoners are guilty and
only 10% are innocent but will be freed soon with full apologies. In
the Other Iraq the concerns of the voiceless are always listened to.
The Other Iraq is the Iraq that you have heard about in the speeches
made by George W. Bush and referred to by vice-president Dick Cheney.
It is the country in the Middle East that is the furthest on the path
to democracy.
The Other Iraq is nothing like the real Iraq. The real Iraq did not
have weapons of mass destruction and was not connected to Osama Bin
Ladan. It is not flourishing. The voiceless are never listened to.
There is little water or electricity and unemployment is said to be as
high as 40%. The real Iraq is the Iraq that George W. Bush does not
talk about. Real Iraqis understand this. When they hear Bush talk about
the Other Iraq, they want to know where the Other Iraq is.