A Rotterdam court today decided that Wesam al D., an Iraqi asylum seeker will be handed over to the USA for a trial. Wesam al D. had received Dutch citizenship. The asylum seeker travelled to The Netherlands to ask for asylum because he was politically persecuted in Iraq. He received Asylum status and later Dutch citizenship. In 2004 he travelled back to Iraq and filmed attacks by Iraqi's resisting the American occupation of Iraq.
The USA are looking for these people who support attacks on their forces. The film would have been used for distribution amongst Muslims in the Middle East, Europe and the USA to drum up money and recruits for the Iraqi's fighting the US Army in Iraq.
Wesam's laywer argued that Wesam would be branded a terrroist by the Americans and would not get a fair trial. Also he might be tortured and held without trial in Guantanamo. Finally there was also a suit against him by the Dutch public persecutor.
However the judge decided that the interest of the USA was more important than the interest of the Dutch public persecutor.
I have mixed feelings about this case. Everything seems wrong. Wesam obviously received asylum status and even Dutch citizenship under false pretenses. The man is a liar, a cheat and and embarrassement to The Netherlands. In short, a liability, not an asset.
However I think that the case for the American occupation of Iraq is highly doubtful. I do not understand the benefit of occupying Iraq. I do not see how it diminishes the treat to the USA. I do not see how it can bring closer the survival of the West. The Americans and their allies, including the Dutch Forces are foreign occupiers there. I can understand that Iraqi's fight the occupiers. I also admire the initiative and bravery of these people who organise the fight against their enemies themselves, instead of having the state organise it.
If they want to get rid of the Westerners in their lands they have my blessing. It is just that I very much want to get rid of the Islamists in our lands.
3 comments:
I was at a party this weekend and met a businessman who just came back from the USA. Very pro-US but he said: "It is the land of backlog in maintainance" about US roads and bridges. I hear this a lot from travellers to the US. I have not been to the US myself, btw.
Thanks for your very long post, Nouille. I used to read one of my dad's books when I was a kid: New York, the way it was, 1850 to 1895. In it there where 19th century pen drawings of all the big bridges and subways and new residential areas that where built on the then out skirts of New York. Also there where drawings of the farms and townships that where dissapearing under 19th century modernity. Most of the rivers, farms, townships villages had Dutch names and building styles. A very melancholy book for a Dutch boy. But beautiful melancholy.
Your Dutch spelling is perfect btw even the difficult old spelling. Did you study Dutch. I was under the impression you lived in Brussels when you were in Europe.
The US DOES spend too much on defense and too little on education. And the whole world usually profits from the presence of the US Forces. Europe will have to learn to stand on its own feet in order to take on Islamism. The US spends to much both government spending and private spending are toohigh. The world will be in the throws of a difficult reajustment when US spending will be cut and US demand will drop due to the necessity to pay back loans.
When the Americans start to concentrate on Home defense ("bring the troops from the Eufrates to the Rio Grande") and cut their defense budget to a manageble level Europe will be in for an unpleasant surprise. So far we have been getting a free ride and so have many other parts of the world.
Where in the USA do you live, Nouille?
No it is great and an honour that you post!
So you got both Walloon and Flemmish in you? I hope you are not Shizophrenic then?
What do you think about Mexican immigration. Do you think it is sustainable?
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