Crossing the Line (Korean: 푸른 눈의 평양시민, A Blue-Eyed Pyongyang Citizen in North Korea) is a 2006 British documentary film by Daniel Gordon and Nicholas Bonner.

The film is about a former U.S. Army soldier, James J. Dresnok, who defected to North Korea on August 15, 1962. The film was directed and produced by British filmmakers Daniel Gordon and Nicholas Bonner, and was shown at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. The film, which was narrated by actor Christian Slater, was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the festival.

By Comrade Kale, A. S. Kinser & Marcus Winter

Seven Years of War

The 20th of March 2010 marks the seventh anniversary of the US invasion of Iraq. And after seven years, over 100,000 dead Iraqi citizens, 700+ billion dollars and almost 5000 US soldier deaths later, what does the American Empire have to show for its expense? Not much. Iraq, even still is a county ruined and torn apart by war. Power in Baghdad is often only on one or two hours per day, crime and ethnic violence are still rampant, and much worse. That country, so rich in oil, is now in debt—a large debt too. The oil fields themselves have been mainly privatized and although they are pumping oil, the efforts of the American exploiter corporations in Iraq are hampered by the heroic efforts of the Iraqi Resistance.

In these past seven years it has been remarkable how much the original reasons behind the invasion have been widely proven to be a lie. By now, everyone knows that the so-called Global War on Terror has nothing to do with terrorism, the Taliban, democracy or womens’ rights in the Middle East. It is also common knowledge that Iraq held no responsibility for attacks against the US, and that the old WMD claims of Saddam’s government possessing biological and nuclear weapons was a lie.

Let’s discuss the fact that the US government stated it was “freeing” a subjugated people. We need not look far to disprove that. Despite claims of “fighting radical Islam,” Saddam’s Ba’ath Party was a secular party throughout its history. The US supports the Saudi Arabian monarchy financially, politically and militarily. The United States and the Bush Administration did not enter the war because it was liberating anyone. Iraq was also not filled with “terrorists” until a military coalition invaded it.

Operation Iraqi “Freedom”

The former Administration of George W. Bush seized the opportunity after the events of 9/11 to launch an occupation against two nations and interfere in several more. The US government assembled a military coalition to secure the economically and strategically crucial Persian Gulf. Iraq’s military and civilian infrastructures have been mostly obliterated by sustained military bombardment and on-the-ground invasion. Predictably, this involved overthrowing Middle Eastern regimes that interfered with US corporate interests in exploiting vast oil fields in Central Asia. This has ended in the installation of a “democratic” government hand-picked by US forces, which of course support the ongoing military presence.

Some Statistics

It’s been seven years since the United States launched its occupation into Iraq, and that means it is time for us to review the numbers. First, take a note. At the time we began writing this article an estimated $712,156,525,787 had been spent on the war.

Number of Coalition Forces who have Died in Iraq: 4,693

4,375 US Military, 179 British Military, 139 Other Country Coalition Forces

Number of Civilians Dead (Iraqi and Other): 151,000

Number of Iraqi Security Forces: 8,745

Number of Insurgent Deaths: 20,987

Number of Private Military Contractor Deaths: 1,186

Number of Journalists: 170

218,397

Source: http://www.icasualties.org/Iraq/index.aspx

[Due to chaos and civil war, actual totals for Iraqi deaths are most likely much higher than the numbers recorded on this site. As well, the United Nations Human Rights Council as well as the UN can be seen as a group led by the US and therefore cannot be trusted in it's listing of Human Rights Violations. We post these numbers as merely one possible source. Some have listed as high as over 1,000,000 dead.]

That number is 186,781 dead and 31,616 wounded. This is the human cost of a war propagated by the United States government not for the liberation of a people, but for imperialism and the dawn of a New Age of American Colonialism. By the time we finished writing this article an estimated $712,164,983,347 had been spent. That is $8,457,560 dollars worth of writing.

Announcement

With seven years, 186,781 dead and 31,616 wounded under its belt, need this war, now turned into an out-and-out occupation, continue? It will unless the American people stand up and put a stop to imperialist war once and for all.

In light of all that has been said here and must continue to be said, the American Party of Labor must reiterate the call it began making a year ago during the 6^th anniversary of this tragedy:

Troops Out of Iraq! Troops Out of Everywhere!

There are many noted mountains in the world. There are mountains boasting about height and kaleidoscopic view. However, the south Korean people are proud of Mt. Baekdu.

It attracts the eye of the public not only mystery of the mountain, indomitable spirit, appearance, thick forest, diversified natural phenomenon, unfathomable Lake Chon, but because leader Kim Jong Il was born there and leads the Korean nation to prosperity.

Mt. Baekdu is a noted one well known to the world people. It is famous not because of only its height and lake on its summit.

Mt. Baekdu is a time-honored one where Kim Jong Il was born. He was born in the mountain when the anti-Japanese armed struggle was waged and cultivated matchless courage and extraordinary ambition. Therefore, the Mt. Baekdu shows its appearance throughout the world and the august name of the leader shines along with the mountain. The Korean people call Mt. Baekdu the native place of their heart.

The Bright Star of Mt. Baekdu the Korean people admired in the past is towering high as the sun leading the struggle for national reunification and the way for humankind. Mt. Baekdu that produced the Bright Star is the native home of the Korean nation.

The sun of Mt. Baekdu is leader Kim Jong Il.

Every peaks of Mt. Baekdu are fraught with his ideal and high aims and valleys are filled with his courage and wisdom. Mt. Baekdu is the mountain of leader Kim Jong Il.

Having Kim Jong Il, a great man born of Heaven, in high esteem, the Korean people and humankind are blessed with leaders century after century. He is the sun, as he possessed at the high level with light, heat and attraction, attributes of the sun.

The Korean people are confident about a reunified and prosperous nation as long as they are led by him.

It is the greatest fortune for the Korean people to have Kim Jong Il as the sun of the nation, who frustrates the challenges of the imperialist allied forces to demonstrate national dignity throughout the world with his matchless pluck and far-sightedness.

Mt. Baekdu is the sacred place of the nation that the Korean nation boasts to the world. From time immemorial, a great man is born in a famous place.

Kim Jong Il, who was born in Mt. Baekdu, is a great man produced by the Heaven.

He started his life in Mt. Baekdu, listening gunshot as a lullaby and cultivated courage and wisdom of a brilliant commander under generals of Mt. Baekdu. He overcame unprecedented difficulties in grave period with pluck of Mt. Baekdu.

It is his spirit and pluck that north Korea defends the national dignity and makes efforts to build a thriving nation, frustrating the vicious moves and military threat of the allied forces of imperialist.

As it is hard to expect the dawn without the sun, the realization of reunification encouraging the nation with hope and confidence is inconceivable without an outstanding leader of the nation.

The dawn of reunification and national prosperity will break at Mt. Baekdu.