Cablegate: Media Reaction Iraq; Harare

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS HARARE 001949

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/PDPA FOR DALTON, MITCHELL AND SIMS
IRAQ PD FOR SMITH, PINESS AND ROOKARD
NSC FOR JENDAYI FRAZER
LONDON FOR GURNEY
PARIS FOR NEARY
NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KPAO KMDR ZI
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION IRAQ; HARARE

1. Under headline "U. S. soldier serving in Iraq calls
for end to occupation based on lies: We're facing death for
no reason" the government-controlled daily published the
following hypercritical op-ed by Tim Predmore, a United
States soldier on active duty with the 101st Airborne
Division based near Mosul in northern Iraq. The story was
lifted from "The Guardian" newspaper: Excerpts follow:

2. "For the past six months, I have been participating in
what I believe to be the greatest lie in modern times:
Operation Iraqi Freedom. . .`Shock and awe' were the words
used to describe the display of power that the world was
going to view upon the start of Operation Iraq Freedom - it
was to be an up-close, dramatic display of military
strength and advanced technology from within the arsenals
of the American and British military. But as a soldier
preparing to take part in the invasion of Iraq, the words
`shock and awe' rang deep within my psyche. . .Without the
consent of the United Nations, the U. S. and Britain
invaded Iraq. `Shock and awe?' Yes, the words correctly
described the emotional impact I felt as we embarked on an
act not of justice, but of hypocrisy. From the moment the
first shot was fired in this so-called war of liberation
and freedom, hypocrisy reigned. . .Oil - at least to me -
seems to be the reason for our presence. There is only one
truth, and it is, Americans are dying. . .I once believed
that I was serving for a cause - `to uphold and defend the
constitution of the U. S.' Now I no longer believe that.
I have lost my conviction as well as my determination. I
can no longer justify my service on the basis of what I
believe to be half-truths and brazen lies. . . ."

SULLIVAN

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