American values up close---it ain't pretty. We are not who we claim to be

[keithyboy]

"In many Arab cities it is easy to meet Iraqis released from the US Camp Cropper detention centre at Baghdad airport, but few of them are willing to speak about their experiences.

In Dubai and Damascus Aljazeera.net met Iraqis released from US custody and asked them why they are so unwilling to talk about what has happened to them.

They say they are fearful that the US and/or its Iraqi allies will harm their families in Iraq. And the former detainees' release was conditional on them keeping quiet and not being involved in any activity deemed to be anti-US.

Criticising US occupation forces or members of the US-appointed Iraqi Governing Council (IGC) is an anti-US act in post-war Iraq. "

(BTW, criticizing US occupation forces and the Iraqi invasion is deemed an anti-US act in the US too.)

[keithyboy]

1. Trying to find the text of Bush is saying to the Iraqis.

Al-Jazeera was left out of the coverage.

[Karenina]

2. Kb, it does NOT surprise me

that this thread sank like a stone as you are drawing attention to the very heart of the matter. America IS NOT THE "GOOD GUY." It is as obvious as a HUGE zit on a teenie's nose to the rest of the world. The only ones refusing toacknowledge it are rabid, ignorant, undereducated, racist Americans. It is TRULY a sad state of affairs.

[IrateCitizen]

6. There's plenty of "educated folks" living in ignorance, too

America IS NOT THE "GOOD GUY." It is as obvious as a HUGE zit on a teenie's nose to the rest of the world. The only ones refusing toacknowledge it are rabid, ignorant, undereducated, racist Americans.

I think that outside of the people who actually proactively seek out their news from alternative and overseas services, most people in the US still believe that America is the "good guy". While I won't lay the blame for all the world's evils at the feet of the US, I will say that my country consistently disappoints me by acting out of short-term self-interest and pursuit of power, rather than striving to uphold the ideals of democracy and self-determination that it professes to hold as its dearest principles.

[Karenina]

3. COMING SOON

to a neighborhood near you! WHY am I ON about this? I had a Persian cab driver last night...

[xchrom]

4. nailed it

[dbt]

5. bu$h has turned us ALL into the Ugly American.

He has dragged our good name through the sewers in pursuit of profits for his corporate cronies.

The rest of the world could make a DAMN good case for our being a ROGUE NATION.

That sorry little sack of shit.

:freak:
dbt

[ConcernedCanuk]

7. What the Arab World thinks of the United States now . . .

.
.
.
A hooded Turkish man holds a picture of an Iraqi detainee with a sign that reads 'Look at the liberator' during a demonstration in Istanbul on Wednesday.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/home



A picture is worth a thousand words

This says it all pretty much . .

[JCMach1]

8. Interviewing a student here this week...

and yes, he was in custody for awhile.