violence

At the end of the day, like nothing had happened, and we had mounted up into our trucks. And right when we were about to take off, a bunch of people, Iraqi people, rushed to the fuel pumps to try to take some fuel. And our squad leader called it in. And the response was—over the radio was “What do you think we want you to do? You know, go F them up!”—obviously in more colorful, you know, language, but—so we jumped off the trucks and charged at the Iraqis, and we really beat the hell out of them and with rifles, fists, feet, everything else that we had available. You know, so once they had either fled or were broken and bleeding, you know, unconscious on the ground, we mounted back up in our trucks and left. We were never told to detain anyone there or, you know, question anyone—just mess them up, you know.

The only two systematic studies of trends in Iraqi mortality rates over time were conducted by researchers from Johns Hopkins University, and were published in October 2004 and October 2006 in the medical journal The Lancet. The first study estimated “about 100,000 excess [Iraqi] deaths”—meaning 98,000 more Iraqis died than would have had the invasion/occupation not occurred; the October 2006 estimated 655,000 excess Iraqi deaths.

... the studies concluded that the US-led forces were largely responsible for those deaths: the first study found that “[v]iolence accounted for most of the excess deaths and air strikes from coalition forces accounted for most violent deaths.” In other words, the 100,000 excess deaths could be “mainly attributed to coalition forces”. The October 2006 follow-up found that “[t]he proportion of deaths ascribed to coalition forces” had diminished to 31 percent by 2006, “although the actual numbers ha[d] increased every year.” And US-led forces were still found to be responsible for a higher percentage (31) of deaths than any other group or cause in Iraq.

The fall of Delhi to the British... was accompanied by the slaughter of thousands of civilians. One officer later confessed that his men "were very savage, treating those poor wretches like vermin. Some carried ropes on purpose to hang them with, which they did with great delight." The killing was accompanied by an orgy of looting with many officers becoming rich men. Queen Victoria herself "acquired some prize articles, including the evanescent emperor's jewelled hat and gilt chairs".

* 1 in 4 women in the UK have experienced rape or attempted rape

* 1 in 7 women in the UK have been coerced into sex, rising to 1 in 3 among divorced and separated women

* The most common perpetrators of rape are husbands and partners

* 97% of callers to UK Rape Crisis Lines knew their assailant prior to the assault

* There are more than 12,000 different species of ant, ranging in size from 2mm to 25mm (about an inch).

* African driver ants are so vicious they have been known to kill humans. Although cases are rare, babies or already unconscious adults are occasionally found killed by the creatures, which attack in swarms of up to 100,000.

Middle-class capitalist societies are particularly shame-faced about the violence that founded them. This is because the middle classes, more than any other social formation, are necessarily committed to peace, stability and security. Without such a framework, capitalism cannot operate. So they are eager to make the transition from bandits to bankers. Like a hippy applying to law school, they need to put their disreputable political past behind them. They must thrust it into the political unconscious, repressing the original sin that brought them to birth.