The War Is Over, Let's Occupy Combat

The day the war ended in Libya, Barack Obama announced the end of the war in Iraq.

With all their economic problems, the Americans might not have noticed that The president is in the process of keeping one of his 2008 campaign promises: pulling out American troops [from Iraq].

The White House has benefited from the interest stirred by the death of Gadhafi, which has highlighted the following contrast: Iraq was invaded by Bush, and is still hostile toward the United States; whereas the revolution in Libya was subtly pushed “from the rear” by the United States, which was entrenched behind the United Nations, NATO and other allies.

Two steps from the White House, where the president announced his decision (all the troops will be brought back for the end-of-year festivities; December will be a month of homage to the victims of the war in Iraq…) the camp at McPherson Square is growing.

In Washington, the Occupy Wall Street movement occupies two places. In Freedom Plaza, we find the anti-war protestors — those who protested every year at the beginning of October (anniversary of the attacks on Afghanistan) and who have been delighted to see so many people at their general meetings. There we come across all sorts of militants and all sorts of causes: breast cancer, the Iranians of the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organization…

At McPherson Square, it is a local version of “the Indignant.” Thirty-something tents in the middle of the capital, some of them fairly high-tech. The White House staffers, think tanks employees, etc, walk along the encampment without lifting their eyes from their smart phones. In the evening, some of them stop and ask the campers what they want. They have a job but they want to manifest their solidarity.

“We represent them,” says Nicolas Allen, who has been camping for three days. Nicolas is young and cheerful. He steers the visitors who pass toward the middle of the city of the “Occupied.” He wears a scrap of uniform, half military, half infirmary. At 23 years old, he has returned from five years in the Marines, including six months in Iraq. He is now studying to be a nurse and is a beneficiary of the GI Bill, the law which allows young soldiers to enroll at university free of charge upon their return.

“There needs to be accountability. That’s why I’m here,” he explains.

“The CEO of Enron has gone to prison; Bernie Madoff has gone to prison. In the case of the banks, no one has been held responsible,” he deplores.

“Mike check! Mike check,” someone interrupts.

It is the way they call the assembly. Each person repeats the orders in turn, and the message makes it to the last rows.

The visit of an Imam who is going to present the Muslim prayer is announced.

“It’s a new thing,” sighs Nicolas. “People are trying to keep the door open to all communities.”