Late in the afternoon on Friday, April 11, a State Department insider leaked an official White House memo outlining a 2006 strategy to unite Su'uni and Shia factions in Baghdad through "gay bashing."
"The White House took its cue from the gay pride parades in Jerusalem," said a former U.S. Diplomat to Iraq Drew Collins. "Muslims, Jews and Christians all worked together to protest the event. Apparently the Bush administration felt the same thing would work in Baghdad. And to be perfectly honest, it worked. Nobody likes the gays."
In 2006 there were an estimated 100 roving militias comprised of both Su'uni and Shia members seeking out gays and lesbians throughout Baghdad and its surrounding areas.
"It's perfect because homosexuality is illegal under Sharia law," said Collins. "We gave them a common enemy to fight and it brought people together - it is still brining people together."
The White House is refusing to comment on the story. White house Press Secretary Dana Perino said they are actively seeking out the leak and that the people involved will be punished. The State Department and White House classified the memo as confidential.
What has concerned the U.N. Human Rights Council is the classification of gays as "enemy combatants," as they are therefore subject to torture. The policy advocates water-boarding because, "Torture should avoid using anything with probes, electricity or nudity since the subjects will enjoy it too much and it will have no effect on them."
As of the writing of this article, through a number of organizations including the U.N. and E.U. have issued written statements condemning the memo, no action has been taken to remedy the situation.
In a poll taken over the weekend of Americans' response to the White House memo, 72 percent were in favor of the gay bashing policy, 22 percent were unsure if they supported it, and six percent were against it.
"Finally!" said Richard Keenan, spokesman for the Christian Coalition. "A gay policy we can get behind! Considering how homosexuals have been undermining the progress of our country for 30 years now, I am not surprised to find out they are the reason why Iraq is such a mess. I hope they find them all."
On the whole the response from the GLBT community has been outrage.
"Of Course we are outraged," said Daniel Hutton, of GLADD. "It’s just been tough getting the community together on this one. Hannah Montana tickets went on sale this past weekend and Home Depot was having a sale on hammers, so that's kept the guys and lesbians busy. And we just can't seem to get the bisexuals to make up their minds."
Response from Congress has been slow as well.
"We all know that this is a horrible strategy," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. "But that doesn't mean we need to start doing anything about it."
Senator Obama on the campaign trail said, "Hope! We need a different kind of hope for the people of Iraq. Not the hope of killing homosexuals, but the hope of living in peace. Hope." Senator Obama was forced to quit his speech, however, after he began choking on the word "hope."
Senator Clinton, campaigning in Pennsylvania said, "Of course I do not support this strategy - unless you want me to support this strategy. I'll kill a homosexual myself if it means I'll win this state by 20 points! Come on Pennsylvania - what do I have to do?"
When asked about the controversial memo, the Republican nominee John McCain started to says, "My friends...," but then the Arizona Senator promptly dozed off.
John Parker
Northwestern Michigan College
White Pine "Pickle" Press
April 14, 2008
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