U.S. flag is symbol of 'immorality' and 'mounting terrorism' in Iraq

By Fatih Abdulsalam
Azzaman, July 26, 2006

Some 230 years have passed since the declaration of independence in the United States. But as the Americans hold festivities to celebrate their national day, they certainly have the terrible experience of their Iraqi adventure at the back of their mind.

The barren years the Americans, whether officials, civilians or in uniform, have spent in Iraq will haunt the United States for decades to come although their presence in the country is ostensibly under the U.N. flag.

Almost all over the world the U.S. flag indicates the values of a civilized society which has transformed the face of the globe in the past seventy years.

But unfortunately that is not the case in Iraq where totally different connotations are associated with the U.S. flag.

In Iraq the U.S. flag is seen as symbol of decadence of morality. It has got nothing to do with technology, democracy, welfare and human rights.

It is indeed incredible to see the United States getting rid of all the values it fiercely fought and struggled for in its occupation of Iraq. Prior to the invasion, many Iraqis had hopes of having at least a slight share of the sublime values which Washington trumpeted.

But alas the world's most powerful country does not seem to have a capacity to learn from its mistakes whether in Iraq or the larger Middle East.

The United States loves creating its own enemies by its own hands and as a result both its Iraq and Middle East policies are heading towards the unknown.

The U.S. has turned Iraq into a venue for "international terror" and a meeting point for the covetous intentions of neighboring states.

The U.S. has turned Iraq into an example that now runs contrary to all the values, beliefs and assumptions it had in mind for it.

How come there is not one single wise man in the world's mightiest country to tell its leaders that they have turned their nation into a hostage of their own polices.

How come there is not one single adviser to tell the White House that U.S. enemies whether in Iraq and the Middle are the product of its policies.

The world's only superpower gathers its own enemies, nourishes them, solidifies them and buttresses their platforms by its own hands.

As a result U.S. policies in the region are heading for the abyss.

And for this reason the U.S. flag and the U.S. tank are both powerless to contain the murderous militias in Iraq.

The U.S. flag is associated in Iraqi minds with the surgical strikes in crowded cities such as Falluja, Tal Affar, Ramadi, Qaim and Baaquba.

The U.S. flag is associated with humiliating practices like ordering university female students in Mosul to take off their clothes inside the campus.

The U.S. flag is linked to the sexual scandals committed at Abu Ghraib prison which has now become more notorious than the days of the former President Saddam Hussein.

The U.S. flag is related to those marines who raped and then murdered the Iraqi virgin in the city of Mahmodiya.

These are a few examples of the things that prop up in Iraqi minds once spotting the U.S. flag.

No wonder, there is no trace of this flag anywhere in Iraq apart from the Green Zone ringed by huge slabs of reinforced concrete.

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