So Much For Iraqi Freedom

[reaganator]

This is how this "letter to the editor" was titled. It was in Friday, August 22nd's edition of the Sidney Daily News, Sidney, Ohio. The author's name is Al Schulze.

These are not my thoughts or conclusions. The author brings up many questions so I am sharing his letter to the editor with the Freepers to acquire their input, thoughts and knowledge. Thank you.

To the editor: Long before the terrorist attack on the Twin Towers in New York, government officials here in the U.S. were entertaining the illusion that all nations of the world should be like us; that all life styles of foreign nationals should correspond to that of our people. If not U.S. imperial power would need to intervene to make this come to attrition. This seems to be the goal of our war on terror in Iraq and Afghanistan. Most of the common people of these nations, prior to our invasion, enjoyed more freedom than that which they now have to contend with.

"Operation Iraqi Freedom" operates under the Coalition Provisional Authority which is administered by a U.S. appointee. One hundred orders were imposed on the nation of Iraq under administrator Paul Remer III. Order No.81 made it illegal for Iraqi farmers to reuse seed harvested from new varieties registered under these new laws. Could it be that the purpose of this order is to establish a new seed market in Iraq for the benefit of the like of Monsanto, Syngenta, Bayer and Dow Chemicals, the corporate giants that control seed trade across the globe? American farmers came under these same conditions with the advent of new seed developed by these same powerful conglomerates in the 1980's.

Iraqi farmers find themselves in a quagmire now that a way of life has been cut off from them. For centuries seed was saved for the next season's planting. Now many farmers, under these new laws, are unable to meet these demands and are leaving the land of their ancestors in search of a new way of life, which today is nearly an impossibility.

So much for "Operation Iraqi Freedom!"

Al Schulze 110 Park St. Russia, Ohio

[reaganator]

I know, he must have his own definition and usage of certain words and phrases such as "attrition" and "to contend with".

His anti-American tilt seems to be shown with the mention of "U.S. imperial power", "invasion", "corporate giants", "conglomerates", even "quagmire" seems to be that way to me.

Yes, we have a small village named Russia, Ohio, pronounced "rooshee". Just an amazingly appropriate coincidence.

I'm sorry I do not have the link to this, I'd appreciate it if someone would help me by providing it for the Free Republic.

I'm anxious for all's thoughts and related facts on things mentioned in this author's contribution to my hometown newspaper. I plan on raking his anti-American hide over the coals with a contribution of my own in the same newspaper. Thank you.

[Tex Pete]

FWIW, Gary Schulze is a soybean farm in Russia, OH, per Google.

[mak5]

What I see here is an order designed to protect the rights of companies in their patented hybrid seed types. There is nothing that requires Iraqi farmers to use those seeds, and nothing that prevents them from harvesting existing crops and reusing the leftover seeds from them.

[JoeFromSidney]

It's "Bremer," not "Remer."

Bing West, in The Strongest Tribe, rakes Bremer over the coals. He was a lousy appointment, and did a lot of harm. Bush, for better or worse, has to take the blame for that.

[elizabetty]

I suspect the first Europeans who settled in this country were not "better off" right away or even for a few generations.

Iraqis had no chance of things ever getting better for them under Saddam, just like Cubans have no chance under the Castro Brothers.

So now many Iraqis are doing better and some are starting over from scratch but their chances of good life have risen a thousand fold thanks to the American Soldier, Sailor, Airmen and Marines.

[Thrusher]

Most of the common people of these nations, prior to our invasion, enjoyed more freedom than that which they now have to contend with.

Yeah, it really sucks over there, now. You can't even feed some people to lions while you and you're friends have a bar-be-que and bet on how long they'll last.

And rape rooms? Forget about it. How's a guy supposed to entertain the ladies anymore?

Bring back the glory days, baby. I'd much rather have a egomanical, saddistic tyrant that lets me reuse old seeds rather than a vaguely democractic government that's selling me out to the evil corporations. Next thing you know, they'll make me get an HD TV instead of using my old Zenith with the rabbit ears.

The horror, the horror.

[griswold3]

It’s easy use non certified seeds not licensed by said companies. (i.e. Round up Ready soybeans)
Otherwise, honor the contract for use of the companies seeds.
simple

[Domangart]

I heard that the yield was one half when you used the seed from the harvested crop..

[SuziQ]

If not U.S. imperial power would need to intervene to make this come to attrition.

If he wants to expound on 'Imperialism' maybe he needs to learn the English language a little better. Sounds like he was trying to use his "Easter Vocabulary".

I suspect that the average Iraqi farmer will go about his planting as he has done for years, and as his father and grandfather did before him. The larger 'corporate' farms might have to comply with this rule, about which the writer is so exorcised, but it will likely be ignored by smaller ones.