(This article was written and published in April 2003, as the real objective of the Iraqi war was being blatantly obvious to all and as the victors were trying the divide and assign the riches of the people or Iraq to the participants of the war. As a footnote it is interesting to note that Jay Garner appointed in April of 2003 was replaced about a month later by Paul Bremer in May 2003.)
“They see nothing wrong in the rule that to the victor belong the spoils of the enemy”
William L. Marcy
A study of the British East India Company can go a long way towards understanding Colonialism as practiced during the 17th and 18th century. Established on 31st December 1600 it had, for the most part, effective monopoly power on all trading activities in India and even assumed, at times, sovereign rights with governmental responsibilities. In fact Warren Hastings who entered service as a clerk in the company and got promoted Governor of Bengal (itself, a company post) was appointed the first Governor-General of India by the British. Such was the power and influence the company wielded.
Today of course we are not talking about anything as crude as the East India Company. In fact the official title is “Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance for Post-war Iraq or “ORHA” for short. The official title of Jay Garner, the modern day equivalent of Warren Hastings is “Director”, nothing as glamorous as Governor-General. Welcome to the face of “ultra neo-colonialism”. Colonialism as practiced in the modern day world of soft-images and double speak.
Lest anybody might have missed so obvious a connection Reuters referred to Jay Garner as “viceroy-designate” invoking images of the heydays of the British Raj.
While the official functions of the post and the title might sound innocuous and the objectives couched in more subtle terms and delicate language, the expectations are the same. Let us be candid and forthright about it. We are all grown ups here.
The unstated, although clearly understood objective of ORHA will be to make sure that the wealth of Iraq flows through US interests and others associated to the same. Jay Garner’s foremost task would be to roll back time and bring back the rich and opulent days when Western Oil ruled supreme in the Middle Eastern oil fields. To recreate Xanadu for the boys of the Oil Cartel.
Riches that would follow from a post-conflict Iraq would of course not be limited to oil. There is construction (related to how much destruction is possible- the more the merrier) telecommunication, water supply and lots more to follow. Already there is in-fighting even within the Bush administration, different departments jockeying to be in a better position to influence the award of contracts. Jay Garner, retired Army Lieutenant General would not have experienced this sort of fighting and scrambling for power while he rose through the ranks.
Meanwhile of course, there is going to be pomp and ceremony. Presidents and Prime Ministers would arrive and there will be parades and marching bands. There will also be ambulance screeches and wailings of the poor and the destitute. There will be speeches of righteousness interrupted by those of moral indignation. While human-right groups try to make essential services available, there will be others trying to be the preferred ISP provider. Yet, away from the lime-light, the real work of ORHA will continue. Corporate America, who contributed umpteen million dollars to the war coffers of the present administration, is going to get their just and rightful deserves.
The East India Company, of course did not play any charades with regard to its real objectives. Today, of course, times are different. The rules of neo-colonialism specify that such moves cannot be played so blatantly. The actual objectives have to be hidden underneath a layer of declared humanitarianism. An avowed attempt to re-assert the strength of United Nations and to free the oppressed people of Iraq.
Well, the scene is being set. Jay Garner is now in the region, putting final touches to his master plan. Nations, companies, affiliations are all fighting for a slice of the pie. Blair hopes that some, be it a pittance, would flow his way. Europeans do not want to be left out. Meanwhile, in the time-honored traditions of war, US asserts that the spoils belong to the victors. Everybody is clamoring for a bigger slice.
The East India Company was dissolved more then 270 years after its formation and after it had drained a lot of riches of the East. Let us hope that it does not take as long, and does not prove to be as devastatingly “successful” this time around.
April 2003.