World Democracy in Action

The president speaks again and, no matter how he spins the fable, no matter how many reporters and pundits he persuades to play along, the situation in Iraq is deteriorating and the president’s self-proclaimed mandate has vanished like the mirage it was.

As we approach the second anniversary of Shock and Awe, the lead story of the week is not the latest in crime and punishment but the withdrawal of Italian forces from the occupation of Iraq. With this action (coming on the heels of America’s refusal to admit culpability in the assassination of Nicola Calipari), Italy joins a parade of democratically inspired withdrawals: Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands and Ukraine.

What about Poland? Poland, Mr. President, will begin a phased withdrawal this summer.

The White House is only beginning to appreciate how the forces of true democracy play out in world affairs. The president spoke glowingly of Ukraine’s orange revolution but failed to note that a central element of Viktor Yushchenko’s popularity was a pledge to pull out of Iraq. In Italy, at least seventy percent of the population opposed the war and the occupation. Prime Minister Berlusconi’s allegiance to American power was in open defiance of his people and GW Bush’s failure to appreciate the profound rage at the killing of a national hero will have repercussions for years to come. If this is how America regards her willful allies, what of the rest?

In Spain, while the Madrid bombings may have impacted the election (and the Asnar administration’s lies certainly did), it would not have been possible without a torrent of democratic opposition to Spain’s complicity in the war.

Everywhere democracy speaks, it cries out against the American empire. When it hears the American president condemn Syria for its "occupation" of Lebanon and Iran for its nefarious nuclear intentions, it holds up a mirror and cries, "Hypocrisy!"

It is time to set the record straight: In the known history of life on earth, there is an endless chain of fallen empires but there has never been an empire that delivered freedom, justice or democracy. The best that empire and occupation can offer is a relatively beneficent subjugation.

By contrast, democracy as an ideal is the binding force of opposition to empire. It is the reason that all empires must and will fall. It is as constant as gravity, as inevitable as the sunrise: America came, America conquered, America failed and went home.

For those who cling to the enduring, media-created image of the purple finger of freedom, why has there been no referendum on the occupation? Why are Iraqis not allowed to vote on their own liberation?

For that matter, why are Americans not allowed to vote on the withdrawal of our troops from Iraq?

In both instances, the answer is clear. The people have spoken. We did not support the war at its inception and we do not support the occupation now. We were offered no choice in an election that pitted one hawk against another. We were denied a voice then and we will not be given a hearing now for it is clear that it would signal the end of this sordid chapter in our history.

Ultimately, those of us who oppose the war have little to fear but time. We will win. We are the people who are asked to kill and die for this cause. When we refuse to cooperate, as Italy, Spain, Portugal, Poland, Russia, China, Ukraine, France, all of Africa and all of Latin America save El Salvador have done, then it will end. The only question is: How much more harm will be done in the interim? How many more must die?

On March 19, on a cold and rainy day in San Francisco, I will join a multitude of voices on the streets of protest. In hundreds and thousands of towns, villages and cities across the nation and the world, like-minded citizens will do the same.

Ours is the collective voice of true democracy and we will prevail. Have no doubt: we will prevail.

Jazz.

JACK RANDOM IS THE AUTHOR OF THE JAZZMAN CHRONICLES (CROW DOG PRESS) AND GHOST DANCE INSURRECTION (DRY BONES PRESS).

Jackrandom.com
Home of Random Jack