Reflections – June 2013
Friends: Those who’ve followed these postings know that my legal battle with the federal government over a $16,000 fine (for traveling to Iraq to bring medicine without a U.S. license) has ended. The judge dismissed the government’s efforts to collect saying the government waited too long to sue. See Bert’s Case for a history of the legal issues.
In my March posting, I wrote that I had been planning to take a break from writing. I wasn’t sure how long a break it would be. But I added that I’d likely be back if I find I have something new to say. I do now!
Some days ago I was pointed to an article in the Pacific Standard magazine (psmag.com). The title was “The Iraq Sanctions Myth” – and it claimed that the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Iraqi children “almost certainly never happened.” Following the article you can find my first two comments (the lower one is earlier and most relevant).
The author of the article, Professor Michael Spagat, is a professor of economics at Royal Holloway College, University of London. A few days ago he replied to my comment and then I wrote my reply to him. I paste my reply below (to make it more readable, with better formatting than on the Pacific Standard website).
I am sending this out to invite your thoughts and any additional information you might have.
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Thank you Professor Spagat for your response to my comments.
I am glad we can agree that the independence and methodology of the New England Journal of Medicine survey makes its data and conclusions credible for both of us. (I’ll continue to refer to the NEJM survey, rather than the “International Study Team” report.) The basic point of disagreement, as I see it, is that you interpret the data as a “brief spike” in child mortality, while I find, in the report itself, compelling evidence of a continuing and much longer period of excess Iraqi children’s deaths.
The September 1992 NEJM survey stated, “The destruction of the supply of electric power at the beginning of the war, with the subsequent disruption of the electricity-dependent water and sewage systems, was probably responsible for the reported epidemics of gastrointestinal and other infections. Five years later, in April 1997, an editorial appeared in the NEJM and referred to the 1992 survey:
Iraq is an even more disastrous example of war against the public health. … The destruction of the country’s power plants had brought its entire system of water purification and distribution to a halt, leading to epidemics of cholera, typhoid fever, and gastroenteritis, particularly among children. Mortality rates doubled or tripled among children admitted to hospitals in Baghdad and Basra. Cases of marasmus appeared for the first time in decades. The team observed “suffering of tragic proportions…. [with children] dying of preventable diseases and starvation.” Although the allied bombing had caused few civilian casualties, the destruction of the infrastructure resulted in devastating long-term effects on health. … The deaths resulted from infectious diseases, the decreased quality and availability of food and water, and an enfeebled medical care system hampered by the lack of drugs and supplies. (my emphasis)
Until the major causes of children’s deaths in Iraq are removed, children will continue to die; that is a simple unavoidable conclusion. To this day the national electrical system has not been brought back to anything close to the condition of 9,000-plus Mwatts of capacity prior to 1991. After the 2003 U.S. invasion, USAID promised to improve it to 50% of that capacity but never came close.
It is hard to grasp the consequences of electrical outages when we do not live in a country with 120 degree summer temperatures (49 degree C) and cold winter nights. It is hard to imagine a surgeon operating when the electricity goes out (as has been described to me) or babies dying in incubators because there was no electricity to heat them (unless, as one doctor told me, he jury-rigged a portable generator to save their lives). Can we imagine how awful not to have safe drinking water for children?
Why did the U.S. destroy Iraq’s electrical system? From the Washington Post, June 23, 1991:
Now nearly four months after the war’s end, Iraq’s electrical generation has reached only 20 to 25 percent of its prewar capacity of 9,000 to 9,500 megawatts. Pentagon analysts calculate that the country has roughly the generating capacity it had in 1920 — before reliance on refrigeration and sewage treatment became widespread.
…
“People say, ‘You didn’t recognize that it was going to have an effect on water or sewage,’” said the planning officer. “Well, what were we trying to do with [United Nations-approved economic] sanctions — help out the Iraqi people? No. What we were doing with the attacks on infrastructure was to accelerate the effect of sanctions.” (my emphasis)
My purpose here is not to argue how many Iraqi children died, only that a great many did. My point is that until adequate electricity, sewage processing, and safe drinking water are fully restored, Iraqi children (and many others) continued to die from the same conditions as prevailed in 1991. If the excess death rate cited in the September 1992 New England Journal of Medicine had continued through 1992, then 140,700 Iraqi children under five would have died who otherwise would not have perished.
As to your thought that the war and uprisings might have been a major cause of Iraqi children’s deaths, the NEJM statistics argue otherwise. My calculations (based on the survey’s paragraph discussing diarrhea versus injury) shows that out of 100 deaths from either cause, 84 of them were from diarrhea. What is more, even with the violence of 1991 deaths from diarrhea increased more than from injury.
In the year 2000 U.S. Congressional Representative Tony Hall visited Iraq and issued this news release:
In a letter to Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Hall said, “I share UNICEF’s concerns about the profound effects of increasing deterioration of Iraq’s water supply and sanitation systems on its children’s health. The prime killer of children under five years of age – diarrhoeal diseases – has reached epidemic proportions and they now strike four times more often than they did in 1990.”
“Holds on contracts for the water and sanitation sector are a prime reason for the increases in sickness and death,” Hall wrote. Of the 18 contracts, all but one hold was placed by the U.S. Government. The contracts are for purification chemicals, chlorinators, chemical dosing pumps, water tankers, and other equipment.
Which brings me to the general issue of economic sanctions on Iraq. The sanctions made repair of Iraq’s major infrastructure components (electricity, water and sewage) impossible, and did so in two ways: 1) insufficient funds due to sanctions, and 2) the UN sanctions committee, dominated by a U.S. veto, blocked many of the needed purchases.
Two excellent books on this subject are Hans C. von Sponeck’s A Different Kind of War (you’ll remember that he was the UN Assistant Secretary General who resigned his 30-year UN career in order to protest after serving as head of the Oil-for-Food Program); and Professor Joy Gordon’s book Invisible War which describes in detail just how the sanctions regime worked, concluding with chapters on International Law and morality.
Many people traveled to Iraq during the sanctions period, including my own U.S. Congressman Jim McDermott, MD. They went to visit hospitals, talk with doctors, teachers, workers, humanitarian workers. It may be convenient to assert that Saddam Hussein arranged for all of them to hear what he wanted, but that is simply not possible.
One of the most frequent and observant visitors is the highly-honored British foreign correspondent Robert Fisk. His book The Great War for Civilization: The Conquest of the Middle East provides many details such as the paragraph below. This shortened link presents several pages of his book: tinyurl.com/FiskOnIraq. See especially pp 706-709.
The evidence of massive human suffering was now overwhelming. A UN humanitarian panel on sanctions reported in 1999 that “the gravity of the humanitarian situation of the Iraqi people is indisputable and cannot he overstated. Irrespective of alleged attempts by the Iraq authorities to exaggerate the significance of certain facts for political propaganda purposes, the data from different sources as well as qualitative assessments of bona fide observers and sheer common sense analysis of economic variables converge and corroborate this evaluation.”
In 1998 a reporter for The Independent described the way in which the Tigris River had changed colour to “a rich café au lait brown” from raw sewage. I have personally seen raw sewage flowing from a large pipe directly into the Tigris, and seen where overflow from Baghdad’s non-functioning treatment plant flows into the river. (This was shown in a 1991 Frontline program and the overflow was revisited by Sixty Minutes in 1996.)
In short, I find it impossible to reconcile what I’ve seen with the claim of the surveys you cite that child mortality continued to improve during this time below pre-war levels. Either I need to question the evidence of my own eyes or the data from these surveys!
I wonder if you are aware of the Pentagon’s Office of Strategic Influence? Or the CIA’s Operation Mockingbird? These are two instances of the U.S. government’s efforts to control the stories that we get to hear and believe. They have included planting false stories which are called psychological operations (psyops).
Of course other government’s do this, including Iraq’s. But possibly no government can do this with the means and skills that the American government has at its disposal. I’m sure you’re familiar with the famous dictum “Governments lie.” But some lie better and more than others. What reason would the U.S. government have to falsify health data?
I have no question in my mind that the U.S. committed major war crimes – arguably including the crime of genocide – in its 1991 Gulf War targeting of Iraq’s civilian infrastructure, in the imposition of deadly economic sanctions as a means to overthrow Saddam Hussein, and in its intent to stop any ending of sanctions until he is overthrown. (Cf. tinyurl.com/BertsDeclaration & IraqiKids.org/archives/april-article-2012 for more.)
I know that others have looked at the facts and agree with this assessment. There is nothing that the U.S. can do to hide its early actions. But creating or manipulating health surveys to show that no Iraqi children died as a result would be very ‘useful’: it would eliminate a crime from the history books it wishes written. Simply put, the only conclusion that makes sense to me is that some party covertly falsified survey health data. The party with the greatest interest and ability seems to be the U.S.
Hello Bert,.
Just wanted to make sure you know about the book recently published by Harvard University Press–Invisible War, The United States and the Iraq Sanctions. Perhaps your story is in it, it sounds pretty comprehensive.
Hi Sara — Thanks for pointing out Professor Joy Gordon’s fine book. I’ve mentioned it on our References page — also on the Blog page I quote from her recent article about sanctions from the Madison Capitol paper. She has consistently written about sanctions with great clarity over many years.
Dear Bert, thank you for your integrity and for the work you have done for peace for so many years.
Dear Bert: Thank you for being the voice of sanity in an insane world.
Dear Bert: Rock on !! As one of my favorite YouTube economic forcasters says “Last decade was the decade from sin. This will be the decade from Hell.” Integrity is the road less travelled, but you will be able to look at that Man in the Glass. As we roll into our grim future, let us hope that you are joined by millions on that road, because surely now the bill for our country’s policy sins is coming due. Satyagraha.
Hi, Thanks for what you are doing. How can we start a movement to end this Terrorism of the world by the United States Gov.?
David — I’m sorry to be so late (a whole month) in replying to your key question. The plan is to devote my March 11th posting to the question of What can we do? and How can we do it as effectively as possible? I believe it is only nonviolence — and the concomitant commitment to truth — that holds the power we need. In the meantime, encourage people to sign-up for a once-a-month mailing and spread the word. All of this will require sharing our collective wisdom and compassion.
I want to THANK YOU for being a true HUMANITARIAN in our Dark Times. Please keep up your good work, and keep reminding us of our conscience!
Bert, you always have led by example. Thank you for being a “beacon of light” in what seems to be a world of darkness.
I second Maryrose Asher’s comment, it could not have been put better. Thank you Bert for indeed lighting the darkness.
Please also at some point do credit in your wonderful writings, to Madeleine Albright (12th May 1996 – it is etched in one of the fragments of my broken heart) “We have heard that over half a million children have died, more than died in Hiroshima, is the price worth it?” (To – illegally – get rid of Saddam.) Albright: “It is a hard choice, but the price, we think the price is worth it.” She now “regrets” her comment. Not the sentiment, but that she expressed it. The comment should be engraved on her tombstone.
Love and solidarity, Bert, f xx
Felicity — If you look at the video at IraqiKids.org/media you’ll see that Democracy Now! gave me a chance to “address” Madeleine Albright. It made me glad that I’d looked at her memoir and could speak to the issue of what she and James Baker were doing.
I’ve seen you and heard you speak many times at Seattle events and want you to know you are someone who walks the talk. Your courage and conviction are inspiring.
Bert – Thanks for this site. You remain one of my heroes. Peace.
Bert,
Congratulations on your new web site. Bellingham is already spreading the word. We remain in solidarity with you and your case, and in gratitude for your determination and courage in active nonviolence.
Thank you, Ellen, and all the good folks in Bellingham. Spreading the word would be a great help to start this project off on a strong footing. I hope others reading this will help in this same way.
Bert,
I remember when you made the trip and events following. It’s a long road. I’ll pass the word. Keep moving.
Peace, Bernie
PS. My trips to India has opened to me the like realities to the adivasis and villagers in India. Genecidal.
Thank you, Bert, for all the time you spend doing these good things toward peace and justice.
And thank you, David, for all that Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility (WPSR) does … also as individuals and in other groups!
So glad that you got the medical care you needed. I know you have paid for your beliefs with your body, in the best tradition of kenosis…are you sure you’re not a Christian
?
We should add your story to the Blowback series by Chalmers Johnson. Yet another reason why “they” don’t like US.
Hello Bert,
I appreciated what you did then and what you are doing now. I have just shared this page on Facebook (over 600 FB friends), changing the title to, ‘Fined for saving the lives of Iraqi kids.’ Also shared the link on my website, too.
I included mention of your story in an early effort, back when I got fed up and started my website in 2008:
http://www.mcloughlinpost.com/jan1608IraqKucinichandDemDebate.html
Look forward to reading your articles.
Regards,
Diane
Dear Bert,
Your blog is so well documented and so much needed. As always, your work is thorough, important and timely. I hope you give Voices Education Project permission to republish your pieces each month and direct our membership back to your site. We must spread the word.
O, Yes, Marilyn. Of course Voices Education Project may have permission to use anything — especially my monthly articles — that’s on the website. And I thank you back for all of your fine work with Voices!
Thank you for simply being on this earth. Now it’s clear to me why you’re my hero!
Bert–I so appreciate your unwaving courage in speaking the truth
Let the truth prevail and those who speak the truth be blessed… Bert Sachs, you are blessed! You have chosen to take on the powerful dark forcess that are inflicting crimes against our very own humaninty and you should know you are not alone… We are with you and urge you to continue writting. Looking forward to reading more of your outstanding work… Education is the solution to all our problems… Alex
Thank you, Alex. I have long admired Mohandas Gandhi’s concept of satyagraha, of truth-force. That is what we have to turn to and rely on.
Bert,Thank you for your compassion and for being a faithful servant to the Iraqi kids. Bix
Oh, Bix, I can only say Thank You for all you’ve done over all the years as a truly faithful servant of so many!
Thank for the invitation Bert. Your continued effort to open the eyes of the American people on the tragic number of deaths and the horrible suffering “our impose sanctions” have had on the poor people of Iraq, especially the women and children, is very inspiring. You have many friends who respect and honor you for your since of justice, your kindness and love of your fellow human beings. It is high time we help you by telling everyone we know your courageous story and of how proud we are to know you as a wonderful example of person who loves his neighbor as himself.
Dear Bert,
You truly are satyagraha personified. You are so right, “Nonviolence is the only way”.
This website is a brilliant idea!! I will help spread the word
Thank you, Linda. On my 3rd emailing (3/11/11) I will try to deal with satyagraha — on the deepest level that I can, since that’s where I believe the real strength of truth-force comes from.
Dear Bert,
Thank you for not giving up on us!
Ever grateful to you,
barbara
Dear Bert,
On behalf of all Iraqis that have lived under and suffered severely from the imposed sanctions on nour country Iraq, I want to thank you and greet your bravery for speaking up the truth about what actually the sanctions were and how of a political tool it was to pressure the change of a regime on the expense of the millions of children, men and women in Iraq. My father have died as a consequence of the imposed sanctions, and my health conditions declined for the same reason during those years. I never thought nor imagined that there will be a time when our voices would be heard, but with your effort I have faith that my story and the stories of millions of Iraqis will hopefully reach the hearts and minds of the American people. Shukran.
Farah — I am deeply moved by your comment. As I wrote to a friend who has also traveled with me to Iraq, your expression of thanks makes that long 12-hour ride from Amman to Baghdad seem even more worthwhile. I reply to your thanks with my own back to you: Shukran Jezeelan.
Thanks so much Bert for your tireless commitment to peacebuilding in the formidable face of endless warmaking! You are a prophet and an inspiration. I thank God for your peaceful presence and friendship.
Thank you, Bert, for this amazing compilation of damning evidence. Thank you for clinging to the truth. Now your message will spread even further. –Your old roomate
Sunil, thanks for your kind words. And yes, I think the evidence is damning. But if you think this is damning, search for “Joy Gordon” and then “Robert Fisk” on our site’s Home page. They have written so much, so well, and so damning that it really is a wonder their work is so little known (here, at least). Always good to see you, as at the WPSR dinner.
thank you for standing strong against injustice. The forces (corporations) of the rich and powerful have lost any humanity they might have had in some past times. These are dark times.
I believe there is currently an unspoken movement to decimate the population by attacking the health and well being of the average person on this planet. The poisoning of our environment has caused untold dis-ease cancer anxiety suicide mass murder-that most of us refuse to talk about but too many are now falling for this to be ignored much longer. I only wish I had your courage so that I might stand strong and be a voice for reason.
thank you again for your integrity and strength
Appreciation and respect.
I’ve posted a referral to your site and case, amid a note
on application of the Convention on Genocide, at Night’s Lantern: http://www.nightslantern.ca/2011bulletin.htm#jan15 .
Bart
Thank you for your sacrifice by helping the citizens of Iraq. I feel humbled by your actions. Peace.
Thank you, Tim. But I have to say that I don’t see what I’ve done as a sacrifice. Working on this issue has been, overall, very positive in my life. I’ll try to write more about this in my March posting. Best Wishes, Bert
Thank you for your work. Sometimes, it seems like the world is such a dark place. It is good to see some light. It seems like we can do nothing, then someone like you come along.
Bert;
We remember you fondly and your two visits and presentations in Twisp. Thank you,
as ever, the for good, humane work you do. Dana
Thank you, Dana. And of course I remember you and my time in Twisp fondly. Please help spread the word up in your beautiful part of our state. Best, Bert
If the definition of the word HUMANITY still has its meaning, it’s because of people like You.
I cannot say thank you enough for your being here.
Thanks and good luck.
I’ve tweeted, blogged at http://rewinn.blogspot.com/2011/01/fined-for-helping-iraq-children-wtf.html and will pass on via Facebook.
I guess one lesson here is that even “liberal” administrations are just fine with killing children who they are ostensibly liberating, just so long as you don’t offend the sovereign privileges.
(You know who this case reminds me of? Don Seigelmann -( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Siegelman ) – another guy who should be free of government persecution but the “liberal” Obama Administration continues to persue. Maybe you could play tag-team some time!
Thank you, Randy, for all your posting, tweeting, and in general spreading the word. I’m happy to tell you that this site has received comments from Sweden, Germany, and the UK, along with comments from a lot of supportive people in this country. It’s very heartening.
It was nice meeting you today on the bus. Thank you for all the great resources. I’m looking forward to reading the Alfie Kohn book you suggested.
I read your article and it’s very inspiring.
Thanks for your courage and sense of responsibility.
Dear Bert,
So what support can we offer you? Any gift that you might request or that we might offer is, of course, is a gift to all of us. We are all enriched by sustaining your courage and compassion. All of us must walk in your footsteps when we turn away from cooperating with state terrorism.
So many federal, state, and international laws prohibit our support of terrorism. The Patriot Act makes it a crime to provide even financial support to acts of terror (possible confiscation of property, $1,000,000 fine, and life in prison). Yet how many of us still pay federal taxes that allow our policies of terror in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iran to continue?
I have such gratitude for your on-going leadership and moral clarity.
Dear David — Thank you for your expression of support. On March 11, 2011, I’ll send out my general thoughts about where we are and what we can most skillfully do to make a positive difference. In the meantime, I think the most helpful thing which folks could do is to spread the word about IraqiKids.org. It seems that no one else is raising the issue of our legal definition of international terrorism with regard to U.S. foreign policies. (Instead, rather like in Orwell’s 1984, people are simply throwing the word around like a smear without regard to its specific meaning. The destruction of language must be opposed to hold on to the rule of law.)
Thanks, Bert, for keeping the faith on this issue. Governments are supposed to be servants of the people but it’s clear that even this one, which pretends to be ruled by law, will stop at nothing to achieve its political ends. Good for you for standing up and speaking the truth.
Thank you for helping us to become more aware of the impact that terrorism has on the innocents. Everyone’s heart is with you.
Dennis
Thank you, Dennis, and all those in VFP who are doing such good work. Blessings, Bert
Hi Bert! Good to hear from you. We met in Baghdad, I think 2002. Keep up the good work!!! Wage peace, -Yusha
Thank you, Yusha. We all need to try to wage peace … actually, as Thich Nhat Hanh puts it, to become peace. (That’s a great book of his — “Being Peace” — which I was told about 20 years ago, and which has been a positive influence on my life.)
Thank you, thank you Bert for keeping the hope for more truth alive after these many years about the genocidal US-UN Sanctions against the people of Iraq. You continue to be a channel of light for me with your durable and beautiful blend of compassion, truth-telling and justice.
Dear Randall — I’m sure you’ll remember your accompanying me on the first delegation I led to Iraq … and the skill with which you conceived of our action in the Ameriya bomb shelter which gathered much media attention (NYT, CBS Nightly News, others). So you have a significant part in my history — and I’m grateful for that.
I am very impressed with both the content and layout of your website Bert. Recent events in Egypt have proven once again that non-violence is very effective. I look forward to supporting you through the trial. Thanks for your dedication to the people of Iraq.
Thank you, Rosemary. I am just now working on my February posting, which I’ll end with some comments about nonviolence — in anticipation of my March column.
Bert…It was by chance that I came across one of your interviews today. I am in awe of the work you do. You have given me much to think about.. I look forward to your monthly articles. ……Thankyou! …….Betty
Betty, I’m very glad that you found the interview useful (or at least interesting). A good way to follow is to sign up for a once-a-month mailing. Sounds like maybe you have. Bert
Glad to see this site. I plan to be at the trial in September. Will you update here with any date or time changes?
PS Found the trial update in the Timeline!
Mark’s & my interest and great respect, Bert.
Bravo, Bert! Your effort to expose the atrocities of the U.S. against Iraqi civilians is a brave and selfless effort. But I am also applauding your recognition of the untold reality of the 9/11 tragedy, an even more difficult thing to accept, and your connecting it with so much of the adversity that we have experienced in the past decade. Contrary to Obama’s admonition that we should not look backward, this country is starving for justice, and you can’t have it without looking behind. We absolutely must expose the truth and let justice take its course. Thank you for being part of the effort, we are much stronger with you on board.
Evan, thank you very much! I am grateful for your words of support. I’ve been pleased that there has only been one ‘negative’ response to me — and a very respectful one at that! — where the writer would have none of the possibility that WTC 7 did not come down by fire, but was a case of controlled demolition. I think we all have an obligation to be thoughtful and conscientious before we express our opinions … but then to speak the truth as best we can determine it, even if it falls outside the pale of our mainstream media.
Bert, you are a true American hero. When you see and read about the injustice and corruption of so many institutions including our government all around us in our country it makes you want to start fighting like our founders did. Yet, you hold the course using good sense, let’s keep beating drums and wake up enough people that a mass movement of our people will eventually make the changes and help rebuild a country we can be proud of. I only wish we could clone you ten million times.
My best,
J. Glenn Evans
J. Glenn, I think that you exaggerate. But rather than argue, I’d like to say that I think a “secret” to persisting in difficult situations is to hold on to an image of how I would like people to respond in such circumstances … and then try to practice acting that way. In other words, to use what comes “down the pike” as a challenge to be the kind of person I would like others to be. Whether I succeed or not, the act of trying is itself a useful act. That’s because I don’t have to berate others for not acting a certain way — or even myself if I fail but am willing to keep trying. Hardly a secret!
Thank you for being a good example to us, Bert. It’s an honor to work with you.
And thank you, Stephanie, for all the fine work you and Michael do at the Metta Center.
Hello, my name is Sarah
I’m an Iranian living in Canada. I’m working with some friends to help the lives of my friends and family members living in a refugee camp called camp Ashraf in Iraq. The Iraqi government wants to close down the camp by the end of the year and this will lead to a serious massacre. There are 1000 women living in the camp.
We are holding a rally on December 12 in DC to protest this. We wanted to invite you to join us an be the voice of these refugees who have escaped the Iranian tyranny and are now facing another threat.
Sarah Baluchestani
YES! Here’s to your steadiness and persistent dedication to what’s true. It has prevailed; and I trust it will continue to.
Bert,
You are a very brave and conscientious man. While the world stood silent, you decided you could not. You braved the powers at the top and went the 7,000 miles carrying aid to the helpless people of Iraq.
The best part of this is the example you set for the rest of us.
Sincerely
Suleiman Shahin
Dear Suleiman,
Thank you for your exceptionally kind words. Indeed we are all examples to each other, and if I have been a positive example in some small way, that gives me much pleasure.
Sincerely,
Bert
Hi Bert,
Congratulations on the dismissal of the government’s case against you. Tragic you did not have your day in court. Criminal that not a single US government official has been held accountable for the massive loss of Iraqi lives during the endless years of sanctions – for crimes against humanity.
It’s been a long time since we traveled together to Iraq in 1996. We remember hospital wards filled with dying children and the heroic efforts of the doctors to save their lives. After so many years of sanctions, war and occupation, the lives of the vast majority of Iraq’s children and families remain imperiled. The Iraqi people deserve better.
Stay “Great”
Rick
Thanks Rick. It seems like lifetimes ago that I joined you on my first trip to Iraq. That was a very important moment in my life, and of the start of my efforts — that you and I and Voices in the Wilderness and others were making — to draw attention to what our country had been doing to the people of Iraq. I wish I could say that things are better now, or that we have really understood what has come out of our violent policies towards Iraq. But we can only keep working, and keep transforming ourselves in the direction of deep nonviolence.
Bert, it was a pleasure to meet you recently at the showing of “The Law in These Parts,” at the Seattle International Film Festival. Given your interest in worldwide justice, it was no surprise to see you at a film which attempts to reveal the “rules” of occupation under which the Palestinians live. Your campaign for the IraqiKids is inspiring. I didn’t know anything about this episode until meeting you.
John Keegan
Thank you, John. It was a pleasure — and fun! — to visit with you and your wife before and after the SIFF showing of “The Law in These Parts.” I’d be happy if our conversation has been helpful. Unfortunately in general our media does not do a very good job in explaining conflicts, especially those involving Israel and those we are involved in. Best, Bert