Post by RedOak on Apr 19, 2004 23:41:27 GMT -5
Well we are there so there is no sense in debating why, are any of that. I am growing concerned by some of Bush's statements and goals. I think the best we could have hopped for was to oust Sadam, halfway get the country back going and get the hell out quickly.
I think the vision of a free and democratic Iraq is a pipe dream. Stop and think of Arabic culture. It is strongly paternalistic. Their religon is one of an old testament type God in full controll demanding full obidence. Their religous leaders litteraly tell their congregation how to think and interpret the Koran. What I am getting at id from the time an Arab is born someone/something is dictating his life. I just don't see it in the Arabic nature to discuss, disagree and come to a consensus such as needed in a democracy.
IF they have truly free elections what is to prevent them from electing any number of nutcases available that despise the US or another Sadam strongman to get in office and seize power. Sure we will have troops there "providing security" since their forces are at the current time at best a joke. What then do we overthrough the duly elected government because it isnt what we want.
As far as the Iraqi forces go, no duh they aint going to be ready. We disbanded Sadams army instead of using what we could. We instantly put out of work a butlaod of people with military training no matter how shabby it was. I am quite certain Akmed the private wasnt a big Sadam supporter as that kind of stuff rarely filters down that low in the ranks. Almost any soilder in any Army is there for the paycheck, national pride, or just plain conscripted. I am also sure the top brass was all Sadam supporters and needed to go.
Also some of Bush's refferences to God trouble me deeply. I certainly hope he dosen't see this as some kind of misguided holy war and God is on our side. For refference look at the scorecard from the Crusades. Allah several , God zip. Not that I think that had anything to do with those victories for the Arabs. However I am troubled by people that believe God is on their side because it makes anything they do right and in their mind garuntees success.
I feel we have crawled off into a briar patch with our current goals. I see no easy way for us to extricate ourselvese either. The longer we are there I feel the more resentment from the average Iraqi we will garner while we do need to atleast get them to a point they can make whatever they want of their own country even if it is contrary to our wishes. I don't think Kerry's cut and run policy would work worth a flip since it would merely embolden Islamic radicals around the world by our sign of weakness.
I think the vision of a free and democratic Iraq is a pipe dream. Stop and think of Arabic culture. It is strongly paternalistic. Their religon is one of an old testament type God in full controll demanding full obidence. Their religous leaders litteraly tell their congregation how to think and interpret the Koran. What I am getting at id from the time an Arab is born someone/something is dictating his life. I just don't see it in the Arabic nature to discuss, disagree and come to a consensus such as needed in a democracy.
IF they have truly free elections what is to prevent them from electing any number of nutcases available that despise the US or another Sadam strongman to get in office and seize power. Sure we will have troops there "providing security" since their forces are at the current time at best a joke. What then do we overthrough the duly elected government because it isnt what we want.
As far as the Iraqi forces go, no duh they aint going to be ready. We disbanded Sadams army instead of using what we could. We instantly put out of work a butlaod of people with military training no matter how shabby it was. I am quite certain Akmed the private wasnt a big Sadam supporter as that kind of stuff rarely filters down that low in the ranks. Almost any soilder in any Army is there for the paycheck, national pride, or just plain conscripted. I am also sure the top brass was all Sadam supporters and needed to go.
Also some of Bush's refferences to God trouble me deeply. I certainly hope he dosen't see this as some kind of misguided holy war and God is on our side. For refference look at the scorecard from the Crusades. Allah several , God zip. Not that I think that had anything to do with those victories for the Arabs. However I am troubled by people that believe God is on their side because it makes anything they do right and in their mind garuntees success.
I feel we have crawled off into a briar patch with our current goals. I see no easy way for us to extricate ourselvese either. The longer we are there I feel the more resentment from the average Iraqi we will garner while we do need to atleast get them to a point they can make whatever they want of their own country even if it is contrary to our wishes. I don't think Kerry's cut and run policy would work worth a flip since it would merely embolden Islamic radicals around the world by our sign of weakness.
