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WORD COUNT
309
MAY 7, 2008
IRAQ “COPS” CRACK
DOWN ON OUTLAWS – by Jim Hightower
Oh, ye cynics who
decry President Bush's debacle in Iraq, let the news go forth that there
has been a tremendous breakthrough for civil order in that war torn
society. Yes, the gruesome bombings and kidnappings continue, mass
corruption proceeds unimpeded, the fractious sectarian divides are
unhealed, and the dysfunctional Iraqi government remains dependent on
American largesse for the foreseeable future - but now there is progress
in one important area: police authorities all across the country are
cracking down on people who violate the seat belt laws.
Yes, buckle-up in Baghdad, or be ticketed. As one district traffic
commander for the capital city explains: "It is part of the healing
process of this country and of Baghdad to enforce the laws, law by law."
Well, maybe. But after five years, 4,000 U.S. deaths, and trillions of
American dollars committed to this disastrous occupation - our measure
of progress is that brigades of traffic officers are being dispatched to
look out for seat belt violators?
If traffic is to be the government's priority, perhaps it would be
better to focus on the fact that commuters are continually interrupted
by car bombings, that traffic usually crawls so slowly that seat belts
are hardly needed, that roads are often blocked, and that people are so
spooked by the threat of violence that it's not uncommon to see drivers
zooming the wrong way down a street.
Also, if authorities really want to teach the people proper driving
behavior, they might focus first on the outlaw antics of such privatized
security outfits as Blackwater. To clear a path for themselves,
employees of these corporate mercenaries sometimes throw water bottles
at pedestrians or fire their guns into the air.
If seat belt enforcement is the best they can do in terms of making
"progress." it's time for our soldiers to hit the road home.
--
For more information on Jim Hightower’s
work – and to subscribe to his award-winning monthly newsletter, The
Hightower Lowdown, visit
www.jimhightower.com -- A photo of Jim Hightower is available
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