January 06, 2003
Fisk in fighting form
p. Although I sometimes have problems with some of Robert Fisk's writing, there is a bullish piece in the Independant that raises a number of important points - particularly relating to Algeria:
bq. "But no American or British newspaper has dared to investigate another, almost equally dangerous, relationship that the present US administration is forging behind our backs: with the military-supported regime in Algeria. For 10 years now, one of the world's dirtiest wars has been fought out in this country, supposedly between "Islamists" and "security forces", in which almost 200,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed. But over the past five years there has been growing evidence that elements of those same security forces were involved in some of the bloodiest massacres, including the throat-cutting of babies. The Independent has published the most detailed reports of Algerian police torture and of the extrajudicial executions of women as well as men. Yet the US, as part of its obscene "war on terror", has cosied up to the Algerian regime. It is helping to re-arm Algeria's army and promised more assistance. William Burns, the US Assistant Secretary of State for the Middle East, announced that Washington 'has much to learn from Algeria on ways to fight terrorism'"
p. "Get it here...":http://www.independent.co.uk/story.jsp?story=366199
p. [note: I find the reference to slitting babies throats particularly unsubtle writing - it stands out in the paragraph and seems a clear jouralistic ploy to appeal to the reader. Actually I find any reference to 'children' and 'old people' deeply problematic - as if raping an old woman is somehow more barbaric than raping a 20 year-old. Why do the deaths of children mean more than those of 'normal' adults? These are such stupid and facile sentiments, yet they pervade throughout these kinds of discourses.]
Posted by Ian at January 06, 2003 09:04 PM
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