Bill Phillips: American Atrocities - Nothing New

he revelations that US troops have tortured and murdered Iraqi prisoners has shocked and concerned many people around the world. However, the revelations really shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone.



American atrocities started when the nation was first formed with the genocide against Native Americans and torture has been an integral but mostly secret part of US policy since the second world war. After the war the US protected the worst Nazis so that it could learn from them and adopt their torture techniques.

After the CIA was officially formed it made torture part of its policy and exported its use around the world. In 1953 the CIA started Operation Phoenix, a program of torture and murder of civilians in Vietnam. Around the same time the US overthrew Iran's democratic government and put the Shah in power. The CIA created, trained and managed Iran's dreaded SAVAK secret police which tortured and murdered countless people. After the country of Chile dared to embrace democracy and elect a President not chosen by the US, the US was quick to install the brutal dictator Pinochet who tortured and murdered tens of thousands. CIA controlled death squads in Central America brutally tortured and murdered over 200,000 people during the 80's. Millions of others have been killed around the world as a direct result of US policy.

Torture was widely taught in the US School of the Americas to people who came to be known as some of the world's most monstrous violators of human rights. Amnesty International cites the United States as the largest international supplier of electro-shock weapons to governments that practice electro-shock torture. $3 million worth of electro-shock devices were sold to Saudi Arabia in 1990.

However, it is not only the CIA & military that has been guilty of conducting torture. The Chicago police department used brutal torture techniques against non-white prisoners up until the mid 80's. Throughout the US prison system, torture and rape are routine. In fact, the situation has been so bad that in 2000 the UN delivered a severe public rebuke to the United States for its record on preventing torture and degrading punishment. Amnesty International has repeatedly denounced U.S. police forces for "a
pattern of unchecked excessive force amounting to torture."

The so-called 'War on Terror' is being used to create a culture of brutality from the highest level. Mass media has suggested that torture is necessary to protect American lives. The January 2001 cover of The Atlantic Monthly asked in large print, "MUST WE TORTURE?" Terrorism analyst Bruce Hoffman from Rand Corporation suggested that torture is necessary to protect American interests. It has been suggested by many Americans that torture be legalized.

The reality is that torture is not a good method of extracting information. Information obtained under torture is not reliable and a person who is tortured will make up whatever information is wanted just to stop the torture. A skilled interrogator can get the information they need without torture. Even the CIA's own "Human Resource Exploitation Training Manual--1983:" says:

"Intense pain is quite likely to produce false confessions, fabricated to avoid additional punishment. This results in a time-consuming delay while an investigation is conducted and the admissions are proven untrue. During this respite, the subject can pull himself together and may even use the time to devise a more complex confession that takes still longer to disprove."

The advanced intelligence gathering technique of remote viewing can obtain information from a distance. This technique was used extensively to identify bombing targets in the first attack of Iraq and to probe the plans and intentions of Saddam Hussein in a daily basis. Non-harmful mind control techniques can also be used to extract information. From a technical aspect, torture is simply not necessary.

The brutality against the Iraqis isn't even about extracting information, it is merely brutality for its own sake. The question is why does the US government allow and promote torture?

Making Enemies
Most people are peaceful and more concerned with their own well-being than with invading another country. Lacking any real enemies, American foreign policy has intentionally created enemies and conflict to support the defense industry and further the goals of the ruling elite for the last 50 years.

Vietnam - The Vietnamese war was a good example of how the US creates enemies to further its own agenda. During WWII , Ho Chi Minh lead the resistant on behalf of the Allied Powers against the Japanese under an agreement that Vietnam be given its freedom from French domination after the war ended. Ho Chi Minh kept his side of the bargain and on August 17, 1945 he broadcast:

"We were fighting Japanese on the side of the United Nations. Now Japanese Surrendered. We beg the United Nations to realize their solemn promise that all nationalities be given democracy and independence. If United Nations forget their solemn promise and don't give Indochina full independence, we will keep fighting until we get it."

On September 2, 1945 a band marched through Hanoi playing the Star Spangled Banner. Ho Chi Minh declared Vietnamese Independence and began his speech with "All men are created equal." Yet, the dream of Vietnamese democracy was not to be. The country was divided and South Vietnam was given back to the French. The US betrayed the Vietnamese and supported French oppression. The US even offered the French atomic weapons to use against the Vietnamese, which the French fortunately declined. It was only after the betrayal by the US that Ho Chi Minh turned to Russia for the help needed to defeat the French and truly became 'communist'. The US had effectively turned an ally into an enemy and destroyed democracy in 'Indo China'.

By 1954 the US was paying for 78% of the French war against the Vietnamese. After the French were defeated in May 1954 at Dien Bien Phu, the Geneva Accords temporarily divided Vietnam in half at the 17th parallel, with Ho Chi Minh's Vietminh ceded the North, and French puppet Bao Dai's regime granted the South. The accords also provided for elections to be held in all of Vietnam within two years to reunify the country. The US opposed the unifying elections, fearing a likely victory by Ho Chi Minh, and refused to sign the Geneva accords - further denying the Vietnamese the possibility of democracy.

As the French left, the US stepped in to control the South. The CIA's Phoenix Operation began almost immediately after the US takeover in 1954. Under US management the South Vietnamese secret police dished out live burnings, garroting, rape, torture, sabotage - much of which was blamed on the Vietcong. Over 50,000 civilians were tortured and murdered at the hands of the CIA & military intelligence. In all, over a million Vietnamese were killed by US forces. The land mines, unexploded ordinance and death from chemical contamination have killed and crippled countless more. Richard Nixon admitted in his final days that he had escalated the war against Vietnam merely for the defense industry to sell more weapons.

It was in the early days of the fighting in Vietnam that a Vietcong officer said to his American prisoner: "You were our heroes after the War. We read American books and saw American films, and a common phrase in those days was 'to be as rich and as wise as an American'. What happened?"

Iraq - US involvement in Iraq goes back several decades and parallels British domination of the country early in the century. In 1958 the CIA hired Saddam Hussein to assassinate the President of Iraq - Abdel Karim Qassim. It wasn't until 1963 that Hussein and the US were successful in overthrowing the Iraqi government. In the process 5,000 were killed. Immediately after the coup Saddam rounded up and murdered another 800 people on a list prepared by the CIA of potentianl opponents. However, the new Ba'athist regime had little popular support and was replaced by rival army officers 9 months later. With more CIA help Saddam regained control and was
kept in power until the US invaded Iraq in 2003.

In his book "October Surprise", Gary Sick details how Bush-Reagan used arms and cash to bribe the Iranians to keep the American hostages until after the election to prevent Jimmy Carter from being re-elected 1980. The Iranians kept their part of the deal and the hostage's release was announced the day Reagan was sworn into office. The US continued to clandestinely supply Iran with weapons to help pay for its illegal war against democracy in Nicaragua in what came to be known as Iran-Contra. At the same time it supplied Iraq with its chemical and biological weapons to use against Iran. In 1986 Reagan sent Saddam a secret message telling him that he should step us his bombing of Iran. Iran is suing the US & Germany for supplying Iraq with the illegal
chemical and bio weapons used against them in the CIA directed war of 1980-1988.

Up until Iraq's US approved invasion of Kuwait, the US Department of Defense training manuals sang the praises of Saddam Hussein, noting how he had vastly improved education, medical care, and the standard of living of his people. His regime was called one of the most enlightened, progressive governments in the region.

As Iraq massed it troops on the Kuwaiti border in preparation for invasion, the US watched on in complete silence. Ever loyal to US interests and his CIA handlers, Saddam invaded Kuwait to support the administration of George Bush and ensure support for long-term military bases in the Middle East. After killing 500,000 Iraqis, the US then setup Saddam's opponents so that Saddam could eliminate any active opposition to his brutal regime.

To further the suffering of the Iraqi people and set them up for future events, the brutal and meaningless sanctions were imposed. At the International Court On Crimes Against Humanity, US, British and UN officials were charged with 'causing the deaths of more than 1,500,000 people including 750,000 children under five, and injury to the entire population of Iraq by genocidal sanctions.' While the Iraqis were suffering and dying
for no good reason, Saddam lived in unimaginable luxury.

The hatred of the Iraqi people towards the US, who put Saddam in power and kept him in power for over 25 years is only being deepened by US actions. There was never any intention of "winning Iraqi hearts and minds". The 'revelations' about the US torturing Iraqis is merely a way to fan the flames of hatred against Americans.

"We have heard that a half million children have died," said "60 Minutes" reporter Lesley Stahl, speaking of US sanctions against Iraq. "I mean, that's more children than died in Hiroshima. And -- and you know, is the price worth it?" Her guest, in May 1996, U.N. Ambassador Madeleine Albright, responded: "I think this is a very hard choice, but the price -- we think the price is worth it."

Other countries - Throughout the world the US has overthrown democracies, installed dictators, setup brutal secret police and death squads, and created conflict where none existed. Anywhere true democracy might rear its ugly head, the US is there to quickly chop it off and put one of its brutal puppets in place. Wherever brutality and corruption exists the US is usually somewhere behind the scenes manipulating events. In the process, the US has caused unimaginable suffering and deprived the world of hope.

The negative impact of US foreign policy is so great that the path of human evolution has been altered. The covert CIA coups and wars have deprived entire continents of the opportunity to climb out of poverty and eliminated generations of potential humane leaders. The environment is being destroyed with projects approved by US puppet governments with money loaned by the IMF and World Bank and then stolen by US Corporations, leaving the impoverished public to pay off the debt. Global warming is very real and causing billions in damage every year, yet the US continues to suppress alternative energy and worship the dark god of oil.

The Great Lie
I was raised to believe that America is the "Land of the Free and Home of the Brave". I was seriously misinformed. America truly is "the great satan". American mass media continues to project an image of the US as the "bastion of democracy" and "leader of the free world" - yet, few people other than Americans believe it any more.

The Real Agenda
Just as past American atrocities have created wars and conflicts, the current atrocities will result in more conflict, loss of life and environmental destruction. The preparations for the war against 'terrorism' have been going on for at least 20 years. In partnership with the Saudi ruling family, the global ruling elite has radicalized Islam through mind
control facilities disguised as religious schools. In these schools they create the 'terrorists' needed for an enemy. Without the CIA, Saudi 'schools' and Israeli abuse of Palestinians there simply wouldn't be a threat from muslim 'terrorists'. If the US had not stolen democracy from so many countries in the first place, muslim fundamentalism wouldn't have grown to the level it is now.

This time there is no adversary capable of standing up the US. The continued war will be one against freedom, democracy and life as the American military empire and its minions expand control gradually over more of the globe in the name of 'fighting terrorism' and the creation of a global corporate police state.

^ This time it is not the whites who are doing this now bro. It's the congress of Jews who are instigating certain cases to tide to their favor in crushing Muslims.
Oh you're a Muslim ? o.O

This statement is enough to destroy all credibility of the entire article.

According to the Iraqi Government, there have been 85,000 Iraqis killed from 2003 to 2008.

The numbers of deaths might be inflated but they are connected to the post Gulf War II (1990) embargo / blockade imposed, not the last war. It' another question if you can hold the US directly responsible, but such blockades are sometimes also considered outright acts of war.

STIR, STIR, STIR WITHOUT FACTS.

STIR, STIR, STIR WITHOUT FACTS.

STIR, STIR, STIR WITHOUT FACTS.

STIR, STIR, STIR WITHOUT FACTS.

STIR, STIR, STIR WITHOUT FACTS.

Current Iraq government is a U.S. puppet.

Yes, because the Iraqi Body Count project who also stated a figure around 80,000 was also an US puppet.

Or the Associated Press, stating 100,000 as of 2009, is also a US puppet?

So is everyone who follows them.

Do you not see the logical flaw in this?

A is wrong because A is lying, anyone supporting A is just a puppet of A, therefore must be lying too.

I can say you are wrong, and anyone who agrees with you are your puppets.

So, what are you trying to say here? You are one of those antisemitic bigot types?

Wonderful...




Of course! The Iraqi government we installed, currently fund, maintain and keep in power!



AP gets it's data from Iraqbodycount.org, which clearly states on it's website that:

We maintain a daily count based on news reports. It is not intended to be complete. There is no agency that keeps track of accurate numbers of Iraqis killed.

In other words, no single agency is sure. What is known is that the AVERAGE number of Iraqi dead per capita since the 2003 U.S invasion is much higher than before the invasion, and that the only dead being counted in these estimates are from VIOLENCE related deaths tied directly to the 6 year insurgency. These mostly coming from independent news sources. This figure only counts civilian dead, and not dead combatants. It is only one of many estimates.

Wikipedia - Iraq War Casualties

Regardless of the quality of this posted article, your logic seems flawed. It seems like you are trying to create some fantasy world were there was little violence in Iraq after the U.S invasion, and few people lost there lives.

That is just plane sick.

This doesn't mean they are a puppet government, nor does this mean they are lying about the death toll figures.




This is just counting from sources, not necessarily only IraqBodyCount



1. Much higher is such a bad term. It is completely relative to one's opinion.
2. Combatants are legitimate casualties of war.



I never said there was little violence in Iraq, nor the "few" people lost their lives.

All I am saying is that any figure above 200,000 for civilian casualty is unrealistically high. The 1 Million figure is just ridiculous, considering how the US limited their weaponry significantly during the invasion, and occupation.



I can make the same argument that you are trying to create some fantasy world where there was a lot of violence, where on average, 25,000 people died due to the invasion, every Month.
Who is the sick one?

But I won't go there, because the most reliable sources, without forming a conspiracy, is the 80,000-100,000 death figure.

Of course, and nor was the "Republic of Vietnam."

Hey, would you like to buy the Brooklyn Bridge while you're at it?




That is their primary source.




Playing with words, are we? How fickle.




There weren't counted.




That is what you are trying to imply. You are attempting to white-wash the carnage brought upon that little nation, for your own selfish reasons.



No, it is not. You are a disgusting liar. You have never lived or even visited a war zone. What the hell do you know? In a situation like that, everything goes out the window, from availability of basic health care and medicines, to water that will give you dysentery, to a infant mortality rate that goes through the roof. All the while, no one cares. Not the non-existent Iraqi government, or the "benevolent Americans", who gave such "shock and awe" bombing your civilian infrastructure to the stone age.



You are the sick one, you spoiled-rotten brat. At the war's high point, when all is said and done, that would be a reasonable figure. You are a racist who is attempting to justify the actions of war criminals by sugarcoating the results of their horrid actions.



Most sources regarding direct violent deaths of civilians. Of course, you view Arabs and Middle Easterners as sub-humans, so anything beyond that is meaningless to you. You would have to be a conspiracy theorist to actually believe any figures regarding Iraq, originating from either the U.S Government or the Iraq Government at this time...

Please stay on topic, and bring up some concrete evidence on how the Iraqi government has no free will.





So what? AP is one of the most trusted news networks out there.



I am merely saying, Don't bring any qualitative, or relative statements. Bring some concrete, quantitative facts.


You don't count combatant casualties in a survey about civilian casualties.



No, I am merely stating that there is a reasonably low numbers of civilian casualties as a result of the war. The 1,000,000 figure is outrageous.



1. Stay on topic. Personal experience, or personal Insults have Nothing to do with validity of claims.
2. Iraq's health care, and social systems prior to the invasion was hardly anywhere near adequate. Plus, War is war, you can't expect a smooth ride. And now, with Saddam Hussein out of power, the Iraqi people have a chance of becoming a developed nation.
3. Shock and Awe only applied for the first 2-3 months of the invasion, after that, US troops began rapidly rebuilding the infrastructure. And it isn't like as if Iraq had any good infrastructure in the first place, the country was already a hell hole, groups battled each other like a little civil war, on a day to day basis.



And yet you have presented Nothing to justify your insults.



More insults, and unfounded claims.

I respect "Middle Easterners, and Arabs" For they were once the central of scientific development while Europe ground to a halt in war, and religious oppression.

I do not care a single bit about race, religion, location of a nation, or the people, however, I understand the fact that wars are ugly. the 2003 invasion of Iraq is a very good example of some of the "Cleaner" Wars, for had the US wanted, they could do the same they did in Vietnam, and civilian casualty tolls would have sky rocketed well above 1 million.

I am not saying those civilians who died deserved to be killed, however, in the bigger picture, while they are certainly not forgotten, or dismissed, Iraq now has a brighter future than it ever had within the past 50 years.

And no, I do not have to be a conspiracy theorist to believe the figures of around 80,000 casualties, for that is the most reasonable amount. The fact is, ever since 2003, no heavy weaponry were used in urban areas. It is absurd to believe 25,000 people are killed each month, by for the most part, light fire arms, and drone attacks.

And I have a feeling that ANY evidence shown to support this figure, will be dismissed, without ANY care for facts, as a figure forced upon by the US government.

Chill, i ain't being anti-semitic. Just felt like acting like an @$$hole for this particular thread.
I have nothing against any religion, other than mutual respect and distrust. Besides, i come from a multicultural country, i have no reason to detest anyone with equal footing in Singapore.

Now on topic, judging from that article, it DOES sound like a Muslim who wrote it. If you pay attention and read between the lines , you will know what i am talking about.

Of course, Kerik wasn't directly appointed Minister of the Interior of Iraq, a position in the Iraqi Government, by a sitting American President named George W. Bush.

Article - Bernard Kerik

Of course not! Bernard is an Iraqi! Not an American! His influence in Iraq was not American influence! It was Iraqi!






Well, okay.

Of course antisemitism is generally seen as a irrational hatred of Jews as an ethnicity, as opposed to a religion. After all, one can be Jewish, and be an atheist. A huge number are here in the U.S.

As far as the article being written by a "Muslim", I do not see that at all, whatever that means. How exactly does a "Muslim" write? What kind of "Muslim" are we talking about. This article looks to be written by someone on the left, and even though I do not like the tone and approach the author takes, there is still a good deal of facts within the article. I mean, what exactly here is false that he is saying? Hell, the CIA even admits to using torture now day!

Case in point as to why he is on the left:

American atrocities started when the nation was first formed with the genocide against Native Americans and torture has been an integral but mostly secret part of US policy since the second world war. After the war the US protected the worst Nazis so that it could learn from them and adopt their torture techniques.

That is a very "extreme left" way of looking at things here in the U.S. One might even say radical. Could this have been written by some extreme Sunni Muslim type. No way in hell. They do not write or think like this. They are actually very conservative in such regards. A lot like Evangelical American Christians.

Could this article have been written by a Shia/Iranian type. Possibly. Of course, they are not really "Muslim", now are they.

You left out a VERY important word. "Interim" Minister of Interior. He has only been in power for 4 months, before he was replaced by Nuri Badran, in 2003.

Of course, and the U.S 2003 invasion and occupation was just an "interim war", and all those dead are just "interim deaths", right? Our bankrupt economic coffers and geostrategic loss of power is just a "permanently interim" result to, right?

You had your fun for nearly a decade, nazi boy. This is no longer 2003, and the wannabe fascists like yourself have spent their adventure. It is time to pay the piper, as the they. The days of single-minded talking points and attempting to shout down your opponents in an argument are over. History is already becoming the judge.

You are now in the minority. Enjoy.

You are missing the point completely, Of course initial set up was done by the US government, by the Iraqi government then took its own course thereafter.
Hence, Interim. Everyone else in the government afterward were selected by the Iraqi officials, many of which have been a former official from Saddam's government.


Do you ALWAYS end with a baseless insult?

what is this? are you guy pretend to be dumb? before making stupid comment such this please be honest first, don't leave out some quote, people are not blind here



the direct and indirect result of US government foreign policy and war caused 1.5 mil of deaths, not just the war alone

Exactly!