CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, during a discussion with Sens. Chuck Lugar and Joe Biden, went a little further than usual yesterday and talked about his own personal disappointment with Iraqis. (via hark)
“Senator Lugar, at the end of November, late last month, there was a conference of Iraqi leaders from all factions in Cairo put together by the Arab League. They released a two-page, single-spaced document expressing their views saying resistance is a legitimate right for all nations; demanding the withdraw of foreign forces upon a schedule.
“I read the whole thing. What was most alarming to me was there was not one word of appreciation to the United States for liberating Iraq from Saddam Hussein in this document.
“There was an expression of support for all these other Arab countries but no appreciation to what the United States people have done more than 2,000 American casualties, $300 billion and growing.
“Isn’t that pretty alarming? Isn’t that depressing to you as well?”
In context, it doesn’t seem as if Blitzer was playing devil’s advocate or intentionally trying to be provocative. Blitzer was sincere — he wants Iraqis to thank us for starting the war. Truthout’s William Rivers Pitt thinks Blitzer may be waiting a while for that note of appreciation.
Let’s see. Tens of thousands of Iraqis have been killed and maimed during this occupation. 70% of the population is unemployed. Long gas lines are the rule of the day. Hospitals don’t work. Electricity is intermittent. Potable water is hard to come by. Bombs go off every day, slaying civilians, police and soldiers indiscriminately. Iraqis disappear into torture chambers. Religious factions growl at each other like dogs in a fighting pit. Even the children throw rocks.
Where’s the love, Wolf? Where’s the thanks?
It’s as if Blitzer is saying, nearly three years later, “Damn it, we should’ve been greeted as liberators!”