What’s the Difference, Mister Bush?

This was written and published in malaysiakini just after Baghdad fell to the US-led invasion of Iraq. Since Iraq is still not at peace and the WMD was a shameful ploy, we can reflect a little on why nations go to war.


Thirty years we lived under a black cloud
Not knowing when our lives would end without record.
A knock in the middle of the night would seal our fate
Under a regime we all learned to hate.

The powers that be ruined our lives
In all aspects we became mere puppets
Dancing to the tune of the day
Without knowing the song they were going to play.

All manner of dissent was simply not tolerated
By the tyrant’s actions our future was ransomed
To deprivation, starvation and degradation
While the black gold lay in isolation.

When they came to kill us we did not ask for reason
As simple laymen we paid for just a hint of treason
The forces of repression brooked no offence
As mere mortals we could offer no defense.

Death came in many forms
An explosion, an accident, a knife, a bullet or poison gas
Families disappeared without a trace
And the world kept an unmoved face.

Now for thirty days we live under a different cloud
Still not knowing if we will avoid a funeral shroud
Baghdad is under siege from new invading powers
Who know the best solution so we all must cower.

Death came in a different guise
“Collateral damage” - a term used by the wise
To soften the carnage caused by misguided missiles
On innocent civilians who must be sacrificed.

Of course it was not intended the unnecessary deaths
But someone has to pay to achieve your goal
Of destroying that tyrant’s grip on the nation’s soul
So you came, you bombed and you flattened our homes.

Cruise missiles you rained on our beloved land
Tons of explosives you delivered without respite
Until the life-blood of our cities you destroyed
Without water and electricity only sewer rats will thrive.

Depleted uranium you vaporized in our air
Spewing its life-sapping evil to plague unborn children
At least we knew and could see our age old enemy
You liberate us but yet condemn us as walking dead.

Baghdad is now truly free from the tyrant’s grip
Looters and carnage go on an unending trip
Our beloved homes have become our prison
Anarchy has poisoned minds to act without reason

The sick and maimed have nowhere to go
Our hospitals have been ransacked floor to floor
Is this the final solution you are offering?
Crowing victory measured by our suffering.

Death now comes in different forms
Disease and pillage is the daily norm
With your deadly force you have transformed
Our skyline and city into a battle zone.

Thousands died under the old dictatorship
And thousands will die for the cry of freedom
Ringing hollow in every Iraqi town and village
As thousands destroy our heritage in wanton pillage.

How much more must we suffer Mister Bush
Ensconced in distant comfort you view a TV rush
As death stalks us we find no difference Mister Bush
From your ill-planned venture, by George! It must be stopped.

Your revenge was bloody swift to annihilate
For the Twin Towers horror we must compensate
With broken bones and destroyed homes we await
The liberators’ brand of justice on a plate

The military planners made a major blunder
When they did not foresee the massive plunder
In a Baghdad ravaged and gutted we are dying
Thanks to you Mister Bush there is no denying.

So what’s the difference, Mister Bush?
Innocent lives are still being lost
Now without the iron grip of old
Our country’s union cannot hold.

But there’s a difference in your approach Mister Bush
Our oil reserves you secured with such indecent rush
But left us stricken and dying a demonic irony
The tyrant’s gone – long live a new tyranny!


HJ Angus, 16 April, 2003 (some thoughts on the USA/UK invasion of Iraq)
photo:http://www.spacedaily.com/images/atom-bomb-bg.jpg