| suva chintak |
Posted
on 07-Apr-04 12:22 PM
Dear Jhapali jyu,
Yes, Milan Rai is a Nepali. He is the son of a British Gurkha officer, and paradoxically, he has become one of the most ardent and articulate peace activists in Britain. He has several books on the subject of war and peace, and a recognized name in the international peace movement.
Milan Rai does us all proud!
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| karmapa |
Posted
on 07-Apr-04 10:24 PM
Milan Rai is Nepal-born (now residing in UK) author of
Regime Unchanged- Why the War in Iraq Changed Nothing.
Three-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee Kathy Kelly has
referred to Milan as our generation's Noam Chomsky. He
is the founder of the UK branch of Voices in the
Wilderness and author of
Chomsky's Politics and War Plan Iraq. Not to mention,
the leading anti-war (peace) activist of UK.
----------------
Book Review
Milan Rai, Regime Unchanged: Why the War on Iraq Changed Nothing
(Pluto Press 2003, ISBN 0 7453 21992, £10.99) Reviewed by: RED
Though self-contained, Milan Rai's new book takes up the story
from where his previous best-seller War Plan Iraq (Verso, 2002)
left off. Like that work it is, in part, the product of the
author's long-term experience campaigning with the anti- sanctions
group voices in the wilderness uk. Regime Unchanged splits roughly
in two: the first half dealing with the long run-up to the war,
recounting in meticulous detail how the US and British governments
ran roughshod over the UN and destroyed the weapons inspectors,
whilst lying to their domestic populations on an epic scale that
has since come back to haunt them; the second with the early
stages of the occupation and likely future developments. Rai
contends (and provides plenty of evidence to support his claim)
that the US approached the war "set on triggering a military coup
in Baghdad," anticipating that having won a military victory it
would be able to utilise the existing Iraqi police force and army
to control the country - the apparent explanation for the book's
title. Woven into the second half of the book, is a fascinating
account of how the US and Britain re-installed fascists, their
collaborators and other reactionaries in Germany, Japan and
elsewhere after WWII. Rai documents how - following these
precedents - many former Ba'athists were reinstalled in positions
of power in the early days of the occupation and poses some
serious questions regarding the reality of the occupation
authority's subsequent May 16 "de-Ba'athification" law. Rai's
fears on this latter score appear to have been prescient: almost
five months after "deBa'athification" the Guardian reported that
the US had shown "little compunction in rehabilitating the real
instru-ments of [Saddam's] brutal control", having "come around to
the view that [they] cannot rule effectively without the
[regime's] security and intelligence services". Densely packed and
scrupulously referenced Regime Unchanged is essential reading for
all those who opposed the war. This is very much a book geared to
action: for people who need accurate, well-sourced information to
lobby politicians, argue with their work-mates or speak to the
media. Read it and take action! ------------
What others said about the book. ---------------------------------
'War Plan Iraq comes from an author on whose accuracy and research
we have come to rely. The projected war is not inevitable. War
Plan Iraq will help to prevent it.' -Bruce Kent, Vice President of
Pax Christi
'This is the clearest and most persuasive explanation of the
reasons not to go to war with Iraq that anyone could wish for.
Written with great clarity and precision, WAR PLAN IRAQ exposes
the extraordinary hypocrisy and double-dealing which characterises
the US march to war.' -George Monbiot, author of Captive State:
The Corporate Takeover of Britain
'Most Iraqis, whether inside Iraq or in exile feel that the war on
Iraq is immoral and illegal. WAR PLAN IRAQ proves that opposing
the war does not mean supporting Saddam's regime. Opposing the war
means supporting the Iraqi people. 'Impressive documentation,
clear analysis and convincing arguments against the US-led war on
the Iraqi people: Milan Rai addresses issues facing Iraqis in
relation to the drive for war with rare insight into Iraqi
society. Crucially, he also covers the link between the war on
Iraq and the Nekba in Palestine, the fate of the Kurdish people,
and relations with Turkey, Iran and the Arab world.' -Haifa
Zangana, Iraqi writer in exile and member of Act Together: Women
against sanctions and war on Iraq
'It is vitally important to get across to the British people that
Trident is being aimed at what appears to be a non-nuclear
country, and that there are nonviolent ways of dealing with Iraq's
suspected weapons of mass destruction. WAR PLAN IRAQ is a valuable
contribution to these efforts.' -Carol Naughton, Chair of CND
'This excellent book reveals the extent of the injustices
perpetrated against the Iraqi people.' -Alice Mahon MP
'This book is an excellent weapon for all those opposed to Bush's
war. Compulsory reading for every cenre-left politician.' -Tariq
Ali
'A remarkably thorough account, and required reading for anyone
concerned about the risk of war.' Paul Rogers, Professor of Peace
Studies, Bradford University 'A timely and important book.' -
Hilary Wainwright, Red Pepper
'The most practical tool for arguing against the war - the clarity
is astounding.' -Mark Thomas
'This is a magnificent exposé of the lies that propelled the
criminal attack on Iraq.' - John Pilger
'As the controversy over the war and its aftermath deepens, this
is animmediate, detailed and illuminating analysis that brings
together a remarkable range of material. Milan Rai does us all a
service by providing somuch of the evidence that is fuelling that
controversy.' -Paul Rogers, Professor of Peace Studies, Bradford
University
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