I'm sure the neo-arabist will not agree, but my Iraqi friends do and they are very proud of the fact that yes....Iraq set in motion the tremors in the Arab world....not sure if it will lead to anything better but even the grand old man of Arab opinion Hussenein Heykal (who rarely has anything good to say about the US or Iraq) agreed that the Iraqi government structure is best for the Arab world.This is not about giving credit to anyone or sanctioning the Second Gulf War, but noting that events have origins and sometimes it is useful to acknowledge those origins. As bumpy as the governmental process is in Iraq, might it not be at least equal to that of Belgium and perhaps good enough to survive for some time. If it survives, might it give hope to others?
Might Iraq now be ready for US, and other, forces to withdraw? Sure, it might need further monetary aid and expertise from abroad. But, it might be ready to stand on its own two feet.
Regards — Cliff
4 comments:
Wow...I am breaking my optempo-induced period of comment abstinence (soon, I may even chip away at that growing monstrosity that is my yahoo inbox!)
Glad you wrote this, and it's just a reminder that history can be funny like that. The narrative changes, and fifty years from now it'll morph in some new way.
Right now, the question is too mired in political feelings for people to treat it objectively...but if Iraq really was the impetus for the 'Arab Spring,' and if the Arab Spring stabilizes into something that helps promote peace and democracy in the world, that ought to mean a lot to the families of those people (Iraqi, American, and any other nationality) who sacrificed to make that happen.
Let the neo-cons cheer, "The END justifies the MEANS."
All together now!
I'll give more credit to Twiiter, than Cheney/Rumsfeld/Wolfowitz/Yoo/Feith.
I don't think so. That would be then State Senator Diane Wilkerson shouting out to a TV Camera on Beacon Hill one night after an especially egregious political maneuver.
The ends do not justify the means. Ask Senator John McCain about torture.
Regards — Cliff
Pfft. McCain?!
Santorum argued that McCain was mistaken.
"He doesn't understand how enhanced interrogation works," the former Pennsylvania senator told Hewitt. "I mean, you break somebody, and after they're broken, they become cooperative. And that's when we got this information. And one thing led to another, and led to another, and that's how we ended up with bin Laden."
Boy, it must be miserable to be a GOPer these days? You may have principles. But, leadership? Not so much.
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