Former German MP slams US Iraq occupation

Jürgen Todenhofer

German writer

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 10:59:45 GMT


Former member of the German parliament Jurgen Todenhofer has criticized the Iraq war and claims that the US manipulates the media to its benefit.

Dr. Todenhofer, who traveled the world to Iraq last year, is the author of two bestseller about the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. In his latest book “Why Do You Kill, Zaid?” the author tells the story of a young man who joins resistance groups after US military forces arrest and murder his brother.

Todenhofer's book is an attempt to shed light on the other side of the story of the Iraq war. It reports how Iraqi people talk about the war, when there are no heavily-armed US soldiers in the vicinity. The author also raises doubts about official figures on civilian casualties in Iraq. Todenh0fer suggests the figure could be even as high as 200 casualties every day.

Todenhofer claims that the Pentagon prevents journalists from entering conflict areas and says that if the true face of the US military presence in Iraq were to be revealed, the majority of the world would support Iraq's militants against the occupation.

Earlier this year, the 67-year-old German writer bought three full pages in the New York Times in an attempt to educate Americans about the conflicts that their government manufactures around the world. "Why do you kill, Zaid?" attempts to give a fresh perspective on the Muslim world and reveal the true nature of the devastating and costly US endeavor in Iraq.

The royalties from the book will be donated to a children's home in Afghanistan and a hospital for children in Congo.

NAT/WY