What would Wilfred Owen make of the invasion of Iraq? A bandit act, an act of blatant state terrorism, demonstrating absolute contempt for the concept of international law. An arbitrary military action inspired by a series of lies upon lies and gross manipulation of the media and therefore of the public. An act intended to consolidate American military and economic control of the Middle East masquerading—as a last resort (all other justifications having failed to justify themselves)—as liberation. A formidable assertion of military force responsible for the death and mutilation of thousands upon thousands of innocent people.

An independent and totally objective account of the Iraqi civilian dead in the medical magazine The Lancet estimates that the figure approaches one hundred thousand. But neither the United States nor the United Kingdom bother to count the Iraqi dead. As General Tommy Franks (U.S. Central Command) memorably said, “We don’t do body counts.”

We have brought torture, cluster bombs, depleted uranium, innumerable acts of random murder, misery, and degradation to the Iraqi people and call it “bringing freedom and democracy to the Middle East.” But, as we all know, we have not been welcomed with the predicted flowers. What we have unleashed is a ferocious and unremitting resistance, mayhem, and chaos.

You may say at this point, What about the Iraqi elections? Well, President Bush himself answered this question only the other day when he said, “We cannot accept that there can be free democratic elections in a country under foreign military occupation.”

I had to read that statement twice before I realized that he was talking about Lebanon and Syria.

What do Bush and Blair actually see when they look at themselves in the mirror?

I believe Wilfred Owen would share our contempt, our revulsion, our nausea, and our shame at both the language and the actions of the American and British governments.

March 18, 2005

Democracy

DEMOCRACY

There’s no escape.

The big pricks are out.

They’ll fuck everything in sight.

Watch your back.

March 2003

Mountain Language

MOUNTAIN LANGUAGE

CHARACTERS

Mountain Language was first performed at the National Theatre in London on October 20, 1988. The cast was as follows:

YOUNG WOMAN Miranda Richardson

ELDERLY WOMAN Eileen Atkins

SERGEANT Michael Gambon

OFFICER Julian Wadham

GUARD George Harris

PRISONER Tony Haygarth

HOODED MAN Alex Hardy

SECOND GUARD Douglas McFerran

Designer Michael Taylor

Director Harold Pinter

I

A PRISON WALL

A line of women. An ELDERLY WOMAN, cradling her hand

A basket at her feet.

A YOUNG WOMAN with her arm around the Woman’s shoulders.

A SERGEANT enters, followed by an OFFICER. The Sergeant points to the Young Woman.

SERGEANT Name?

YOUNG WOMAN We’ve given our names.

SERGEANT Name?

YOUNG WOMAN We’ve given our names.

SERGEANT Name?

OFFICER (to Sergeant) Stop this shit, (to Young Woman) Any complaints?

YOUNG WOMAN She’s been bitten.

OFFICER Who?

Pause.

OFFICER (cont.) Who? Who’s been bitten?