Bishop says Iraqi militants have greater authority than coalition forces
-8/11/04
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Bishop says Iraqi militants have greater authority than coalition forces
-8/11/04
In a fierce attack on the occupation of Iraq, The Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich has suggested that Iraqi militants have an “immense” authority which coalition forces do not possess.
In a controversial speech the Rt Revd Richard Lewis also expressed said that British troops were being drawn further into a conflict which he said was not “of our making” or “under our control”.
The comments were made to his diocesan synod at the weekend.
The Bishop told clergy that the Iraq invasion represented a good example of the difference between power and authority.
“The coalition forces led by the Americans are able to exercise awesome power but in Iraq they have virtually no authority whatever,” he said.
“Even after the election, it is doubtful how much authority has been given to President Bush in relation to Iraq even on his own home ground.
“The Iraqis on the other hand, even though it is impossible to speak of them as a single coherent group, have in common the fact that they have little or no power but they are subject to immense authority exercised in several different forms with its roots in Islam.”
Likening the situation in Iraq to the Vietnam conflict the Bishop said; “This is something which the Americans do not appear to understand despite their dramatic defeat in Vietnam, where the same conditions existed.
“In that case, a pathetically ill equipped peasant army with zero military capability in conventional terms caused the militarily most powerful national on earth to flee for its life.”
He added: “I am very sad indeed to see our own troops being drawn further into this conflict which is not of our making and nor is it under our control.”
The Bishop also said he found it incredible that Bush could talk about terror as if it was something only others were responsible for.
“We remember with deep regret that the vast majority of the casualties in this war so far have been non-combatants ñ the majority women and children” he said.
“In such circumstances it is incredible that President Bush can speak of terror as if it is something solely perpetrated by others.
“The initial American bombings of Iraq were designed to terrorise and the coalition has refused to count any casualties other than their own.”
Bishop says Iraqi militants have greater authority than coalition forces
-8/11/04
In a fierce attack on the occupation of Iraq, The Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich has suggested that Iraqi militants have an “immense” authority which coalition forces do not possess.
In a controversial speech the Rt Revd Richard Lewis also expressed said that British troops were being drawn further into a conflict which he said was not “of our making” or “under our control”.
The comments were made to his diocesan synod at the weekend.
The Bishop told clergy that the Iraq invasion represented a good example of the difference between power and authority.
“The coalition forces led by the Americans are able to exercise awesome power but in Iraq they have virtually no authority whatever,” he said.
“Even after the election, it is doubtful how much authority has been given to President Bush in relation to Iraq even on his own home ground.
“The Iraqis on the other hand, even though it is impossible to speak of them as a single coherent group, have in common the fact that they have little or no power but they are subject to immense authority exercised in several different forms with its roots in Islam.”
Likening the situation in Iraq to the Vietnam conflict the Bishop said; “This is something which the Americans do not appear to understand despite their dramatic defeat in Vietnam, where the same conditions existed.
“In that case, a pathetically ill equipped peasant army with zero military capability in conventional terms caused the militarily most powerful national on earth to flee for its life.”
He added: “I am very sad indeed to see our own troops being drawn further into this conflict which is not of our making and nor is it under our control.”
The Bishop also said he found it incredible that Bush could talk about terror as if it was something only others were responsible for.
“We remember with deep regret that the vast majority of the casualties in this war so far have been non-combatants ñ the majority women and children” he said.
“In such circumstances it is incredible that President Bush can speak of terror as if it is something solely perpetrated by others.
“The initial American bombings of Iraq were designed to terrorise and the coalition has refused to count any casualties other than their own.”