In an article titled "Partners in Murder" in the Turkish Islamic daily Yeni Safak, known for its unofficial connections to the Turkish government, [1] columnist Dr. Husnu Mahalli, of Syrian origin, described in detail America's purported murderous activities as emanating from a genetically ingrained tendency to murder. The following is the article (ellipses in the original): [2]
'Murdering is Genetically Ingrained in American Culture'
"During the [U.S.] invasion [of Iraq], when I said that the Iraqi people would resist, some said, 'You are wrong – see, no one resisted…' When the resistance did begin they said, 'They are only packs of murderers'…
"It is obvious that in both cases, some want to blame the Iraqis, not America…
"I wonder: If America had invaded Turkey … what would the Turks be doing? Would they prefer to kneel in front of Bush and his gang and surrender? Could proud patriots accept that?
"If there is anyone who says 'yes' to all this, I have nothing to say to 'them'… And if there still remain any who look at the developments in Iraq through American lenses, I have nothing to say to them either…
"Since 9/11 I have been saying…: "America invaded Iraq with 'packs of murderers'… America went to Iraq solely to satisfy its murderous instincts.
"Murdering is genetically ingrained in American culture.
"The second term of Bush's administration will prove this more clearly and concretely. A mere look at Fallujah will suffice: The American military is murdering thousands by destroying the city, on the pretext of eliminating the resistance in Fallujah.
"The Americans say they killed 1200 insurgents… about 20 of them foreigners! Let's assume this is true…
"If it is true, we should rejoice… It means people from other countries believe in the just struggle of the Iraqi people and are going there to fight alongside them… It means they are not tourists, or interested in making 'blood money'…
"Let us not forget that some 40 countries have sent troops to Iraq in support of the American occupation… Why is it that becoming an accomplice to America's murders is 'good,' but supporting and participating in the resistance of the Iraqi people is 'bad?' Or do some still see the resistance fighters as 'packs of murderers' or extremist radical Islamists…?"
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'The Americans are Lying, as They Always Do'
"The Americans are lying, as they always do… Television [stations] around the world showed yesterday how American soldiers enter mosques and execute the unarmed civilian wounded. They say the American military will investigate … just like they investigated the Abu Ghraib prison tortures… Anyhow, the world has already forgotten those disgusting images [of Abu Ghraib]…
"Soon they will also forget the destruction of the mosques, and the murder of unarmed wounded civilians who sought refuge in those mosques…
"For heaven's sake, what's happening to us?…
"We look at images of Fallujah as if watching American films – with no emotion or reaction, in undefined anger…
"For God's sake, when will we see the realities?… When will we understand that this is a new Crusader war?… When will we realize that American aggression targets – and will continue to target – all Muslim countries and peoples?… When will we stop this admiration for America?… When will we [i.e. Turkish trucks] stop carrying fuel to the American airplanes that kill the Iraqi people?… When will we be ashamed of 'welcoming' the murderer soldiers of America when they reach the shores of Adana [a city in southern Turkey near U.S. military bases]?…
"If our humanity does not hold us accountable for all this, certainly one day history will…"
'U.S.A. – the God-Damned Country'
"Let's return to Fallujah… Mere words cannot describe the murders being committed there… A friend I spoke to yesterday told me that Americans are using Iraqi civilians as human shields to protect themselves against the insurgents. One can expect no less from the faithless, treacherous, murderous Americans…Despite their superiority of arms, both in the air and on the ground, American soldiers are scared of the resistance fighters.
"After bombing the mosques of Fallujah, the American soldiers desecrate them by urinating on and soiling their walls.
"After raiding homes, American soldiers strip the women and girls naked and molest them.
"Fear not … soon these images too will be posted on American websites … just like the images of the Abu Ghraib prison tortures…
"American soldiers are being helped by some Kurds and some Iranian militants too… Soon this too will be revealed… Americans are preventing Iraqi Red Crescent emergency convoys from entering the city [of Fallujah]…
"For Heaven's sake, enough already!… [We] must all see reality…
"Americans do not and will never intend to bring liberty, democracy or human rights to Iraq or any other place…
"The Americans want to obliterate the human values of all peoples of the region.Just like Sharon, the Americans want to denigrate and humiliate us, and defile our honor. The Americans, together with Sharon,want to drag us into hopelessness and despair in order to enslave us.
"The Americans gave this a name in the aftermath of 9/11…
"The New Crusade … and this is why 59 million Americans voted for Bush…
"In the words of our ninth president [Suleyman] Demirel: 'Americans are acting in Iraq by the principle of 'better you die than I' … This is the U.S.A. that some among us still love and admire…
"In the words of[Turkish TV personality and actor] Levent Kirca: 'U.S.A. – the God-damned country'…" [3]
[1] The paper's owner and Turkey's prime minister have recently become related via their children's marriage.
[2] Yeni Safak (Turkey), November 17, 2004.
[3] A play on words. The writer gives the acronym for "U.S.A." in Turkish, "A.B.D" – which is also an acronym for the Turkish phrase meaning "God-damned country."
