Article: Bush in Iraq, Slouching Toward Genocide

But some in Washington say it's outrageous even to suggest the possibility of the U.S. government engaging in a crime against humanity as severe as genocide. Despite the historical fact that much of the American continent was settled after genocide against Native Americans, the notion of such a present-day crime is considered unthinkable.

The Bush administration, however, already has crossed other bright lines of international law, including the invasion of a non-threatening foreign nation and complicity in torture, such as subjecting captives to simulated drowning in a process called "water-boarding."

So, how unthinkable is it really that the Bush administration might venture across another boundary of civilized behavior?

What if Iraq's Sunnis dig in their heels because they suspect that their historic Shiite rivals plan to deny the Sunni population a significant share of Iraq's oil reserves, which are located mostly in Shiite and Kurdish territories?

With little choice besides living in poverty in Iraq's central desert, the Sunnis might decide that their best option is to continue fighting until the Shiites make far bigger concessions, such as giving a strong central government control of the oil riches.

If that's the choice the Sunnis make - and if Bush sees his commitment to a "complete victory" as part of God's plan - might the Shiites then exploit U.S. air power to inflict a final crushing blow against their ancient enemies?

Perhaps cooler heads will prevail and excessive bloodshed will be averted. But if too many more lines get crossed, the rest of the world may extend the list of crimes already blamed on the Bush administration - to include genocide.

Robert Parry broke many of the Iran-Contra stories in the 1980s for the Associated Press and Newsweek. His latest book, Secrecy & Privilege: Rise of the Bush Dynasty from Watergate to Iraq, can be ordered at secrecyandprivilege.com. It's also available at Amazon.com, as is his 1999 book, Lost History: Contras, Cocaine, the Press & 'Project Truth.'

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