We Must Become Them
The situation in Iraq is one that demands more blood before there's resolution. Resolution will not come from a clear and decisive victory, rather, it will come from sheer exhaustion. There has to come a time eventually, when people will just grow tired to killing each other, and the killing will stop. We're at a fork on the path to end the strife. On road leads to more US troop deployment, the other to complete withdrawal from the region.
The road to more US troop deployment is the one that the Bush Administration seems to have accepted. Bush has declared that Congress be damn, he's the decision maker, and no matter what Congress does with what legislation, as the commander-in-chief, he's going to send more GIs into the quagmire. To complicate matters, the Pentagon has recently increased its military presence in the Persian Gulf by sending more warships and fighter jets – and Bush has authorized the ground troops to engage Syrians and Iranians in Iraq who are lending a hand to the insurgency. In effect, the sectarian violence will continue, with the natural scapegoat for all woes being the easily targeted American troops. Far from fighting terrorism, America's continued engagement in Iraq only increases the resolve of terrorists and gives credence to their cause. Moderates who wouldn't otherwise take sides and being pushed by anger to adopt extremist views.
The complete withdrawal of US troops from the region would be an immediate disaster. Warlords with private armies would topple the Iraqi government in no time. Iran extend its influence and in effect, win the Iran-Iraq war that has been in a stalemate for the past forty years. Iran may be able to bring stability to Iraq, but not after a whole lot of people were killed – which would be the same price the other path would have to pay. Iran's influence in the region would grow and most likely result in increased hostilities, as Israel is compelled to launch first strikes at the least provocations. Other Arab nations would be none too happy either, as their regimes are threatened by the Iranian brand of republic. What would the Middle East look like down this path? Well, not a whole lot different than how it was before Iraq was invaded.
The sad result from all of this is that the American government – the Bush Administration – knows that Arabs are as rich in their diversity as Americans are. As a people, they are not terrorists or enemies of western civilization. This isn't a conflict between ideologies. This isn't about democracy or totalitarianism. The American government continues to embrace certain Arab states, even as it denounces others. Global trade continues to be the arbitrator of cultural differences between the Arab states and America. Yet – the American government needs to demonize the Arabs in order to sell an unpopular war and ensconce greater government presence in the lives of American citizens. Bush and Co. sell fear of the Arabs, while at the same time, they continue to bring the genie out to grant wishes of personal wealth.
Saudi Arabia is the key to a whole lot of the latest strife, and surprisingly, doesn't look a whole lot different from the Bush & Co. destiny for America. Saudi Arabia lives in two worlds. One that supports radicalism and incubates disenchantment – and the other that is a global player in finance and trade. This dualism is a tightrope that the Saudi government needs to walk in order to stay in power and have things remain unchanged. This is what Bush & Co. seek for America. I charged that secretly, this is what George W. Bush seeks. He admires the Saudi princes and emirs. With them he is a man. With them, he too is a prince – and since the opportunity of 9/11, George W. Bush was been playing the role of a Saudi prince in America. And if America is to have a prince, then Americans must be like the Saudi people.
The road to more US troop deployment is the one that the Bush Administration seems to have accepted. Bush has declared that Congress be damn, he's the decision maker, and no matter what Congress does with what legislation, as the commander-in-chief, he's going to send more GIs into the quagmire. To complicate matters, the Pentagon has recently increased its military presence in the Persian Gulf by sending more warships and fighter jets – and Bush has authorized the ground troops to engage Syrians and Iranians in Iraq who are lending a hand to the insurgency. In effect, the sectarian violence will continue, with the natural scapegoat for all woes being the easily targeted American troops. Far from fighting terrorism, America's continued engagement in Iraq only increases the resolve of terrorists and gives credence to their cause. Moderates who wouldn't otherwise take sides and being pushed by anger to adopt extremist views.
The complete withdrawal of US troops from the region would be an immediate disaster. Warlords with private armies would topple the Iraqi government in no time. Iran extend its influence and in effect, win the Iran-Iraq war that has been in a stalemate for the past forty years. Iran may be able to bring stability to Iraq, but not after a whole lot of people were killed – which would be the same price the other path would have to pay. Iran's influence in the region would grow and most likely result in increased hostilities, as Israel is compelled to launch first strikes at the least provocations. Other Arab nations would be none too happy either, as their regimes are threatened by the Iranian brand of republic. What would the Middle East look like down this path? Well, not a whole lot different than how it was before Iraq was invaded.
The sad result from all of this is that the American government – the Bush Administration – knows that Arabs are as rich in their diversity as Americans are. As a people, they are not terrorists or enemies of western civilization. This isn't a conflict between ideologies. This isn't about democracy or totalitarianism. The American government continues to embrace certain Arab states, even as it denounces others. Global trade continues to be the arbitrator of cultural differences between the Arab states and America. Yet – the American government needs to demonize the Arabs in order to sell an unpopular war and ensconce greater government presence in the lives of American citizens. Bush and Co. sell fear of the Arabs, while at the same time, they continue to bring the genie out to grant wishes of personal wealth.
Saudi Arabia is the key to a whole lot of the latest strife, and surprisingly, doesn't look a whole lot different from the Bush & Co. destiny for America. Saudi Arabia lives in two worlds. One that supports radicalism and incubates disenchantment – and the other that is a global player in finance and trade. This dualism is a tightrope that the Saudi government needs to walk in order to stay in power and have things remain unchanged. This is what Bush & Co. seek for America. I charged that secretly, this is what George W. Bush seeks. He admires the Saudi princes and emirs. With them he is a man. With them, he too is a prince – and since the opportunity of 9/11, George W. Bush was been playing the role of a Saudi prince in America. And if America is to have a prince, then Americans must be like the Saudi people.
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