THE PRICE OF OIL AND THE PRICE OF WAR

"I'll leave the dogma merchants to argue about how bad Iraq is or
isn't; how dangerous it is or isn't; how this piece could be read as
appeasement or how an attack could ignite the whole of the Middle East
And perhaps even start an Islam-Christian war that could go on for a
horrifically long time. These arguments will continue between the
powerless over countless beers in countless bars. And these arguments
will all be theoretical, because Tony & George will sacrifice young men
anyway if they fancy it."

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By George Berger

So Tony Blair has said he's prepared to 'pay the blood price' waging
war on Iraq, and the world once more seems a very sick patient.

The 'blood price' -- whose blood?

Not his own for sure -- that's a price he'd never pay. Not that of
Cherie. Not that of his children. Probably not yours either, unless you
happen to be living in Iraq or are a member of the armed forces. But
none less the real for all that. It could've been your kids, Ern.

And Tony and George are prepared to 'pay' it, in the same way a credit
card thief uses other peoples' money and declares that he or she is
paying themselves.

The 'blood price' -- frightened young men facing premature death,
literally shitting their pants and questioning at the last -- too late
-- moment, whether they are really prepared to sacrifice their own
lives and the happiness of all their friends and families for what will
only be remembered as 'the price'.

The 'blood price' -- widows and orphans / asking 'when daddy, when /
you going to learn to walk again?'

The 'blood price' -- disemboweled young children in Bahgdad -- worse
than the worst violent crime victims that the emergency services at
home have to clear up, and which give them nightmares for years
afterwards.

The 'blood price' -- your own worst nightmare -- delivered upon someone
else. So that's OK. Isn't it?

And all for what? Different answers depending on different political
perspectives. Different dangers that could yet hurtle us towards World
War Three. And just by chance, there's an oil line involved. And just
by chance, Bush is an oil spiv. And just by chance, so was his dad. And
just by chance, he was the last American to wage war on Iraq. Just by
chance, you understand.

The 'blood price' -- rotting corpses, grieving families, the putrid
stench of death, a detached hand hanging on the old barbed wire.

Jack The Ripper Son Of Sam The Crusaders 'Christian' Tony & George. How
did we arrive at such a sick perversion of the words of Jesus? He paid
the blood price too.

The 'blood price' is a thoroughly sickening term that shows Blair and
Bush (like 'leaders' everywhere) are willing to conduct human sacrifice
in order to achieve their aims. Different periods in history present
human sacrifice in different ways, but spiritually / morally /
ethically, that is always what it remains. And I for one am sick of
being ruled by fools who waste lives on whim. Their supposed morals are
a cesspit.

I'll leave the dogma merchants to argue about how bad Iraq is or isn't;
how dangerous it is or isn't; how this piece could be read as
appeasement or how an attack could ignite the whole of the Middle East
And perhaps even start an Islam-Christian war that could go on for a
horrifically long time. These arguments will continue between the
powerless over countless beers in countless bars. And these arguments
will all be theoretical, because Tony & George will sacrifice young men
anyway if they fancy it.

All we can do is occasionally take time out to consider one phrase: the
'blood price' and just how much of their own or their childrens' or
parents' they would be prepared to spill. Or ours.

Imagine a hand thrusting out from this monitor -- gripping your throat,
then slitting it. Then gloating over your near-dead body and saying it
was all done in the cause of freedom.

Would you pay your own blood price? Or just someone else's?


No Doves Fly Here
by The Mob

The sky is empty and it's turning different shades of colour,
It never did before and we never asked for war.
My mind is empty and my body different shapes of torture,
It never was before and we never asked for war.

No-one is moving and no doves fly here,
No-one is thinking and no doves fly here,
No-one remembers beyond all this fear,
No doves fly here

The buildings are empty and the countryside is wasteland,
It never was before and we never asked for war.
The playgrounds are empty and the children limbless corpses,
They never were before and they never asked for war.
No-one is moving and no doves fly here,
No-one is thinking and no doves fly here,
No-one remembers beyond all this fear,
No doves fly here

"We never asked for war, nor in the innocence of our birth were we
aware of it. We never asked for war, nor in the struggle to realisation
did we feel there was a need for it. We never asked for war, nor in the
joyful colours of our childhood were we conscious of its darkness." --
Penny Rimbaud (Crass)


from: http://www.3ammagazine.com/berger/2002_sep_1.html
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George Berger is a freelance writer, with punk rock dna. He has written
for Sounds, Melody Maker and Amnesty International among others. He has
also written 3 books, with one published thus far: Dance Before the
Storm: the Official Story of The Levellers (Virgin Books 1999). George
edits abisti. He lives where the mood takes him and funds allow.



COPYRIGHT © 2002, 3 A.M. MAGAZINE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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