When we talk about the actions of a government, we say so. We, for example, might call out the British government but not the British people or the Chinese government but not the Chinese people or thug Nouri al-Maliki but not the Iraqi people.
Having survived eight years of illegal occupation by Bully Boy Bush of our White House, we are well aware that a government doesn't necessarily represent a people.
That people like Rachel Shabi ("US in Iraq: They broke it but didn't fix it," Al Jazeera) and Simon Assaf ("US intervention in Iraq encouraged growth of Al Qaida," UK Socialist Worker) lack that same consideration doesn't surprise us.
That people like Shabi and Assaf are so stupid?
That embarrasses us.
We are embarrassed for them.
Especially for those like Simon who are British.
Or did he forget Tony Blair?
Wasn't that the prime minister of England?
We kind of think it was.
How very smug to spit and point at the US people while pretending your own country didn't take part in the destruction of Iraq.
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Illustration is Isaiah's "Now he's soaking in it" from September 6, 2010.