Every now and then someone just nails a subject. I wish I had written the following article and I really wish the administration had someone who could explain reality with intellectual clarity, but this comes from a blogger on the Guerrilla News Network.
Instability In Iraq: When one listens to many anti-war arguments, one theme that often reappears over and over again is this claim that the US is creating instability in Iraq. Normally, I would respond by asking who cares? … But after some reflection I have realized what stability they are often referring too.I recommend reading the whole post but skip the sophomoric leftist attacks in the comments. The people who want to believe that the presence of police makes America a police state and that a disciplined military must mean fascism are beyond reasoning. It is hard to become unjustly incarcerated and extremely difficult to get yourself killed by our government. The people of Iraq are the ones who have lived under true oppression and you don’t just snap out of the mindsets that aided survival. Iraq is dangerous today because it was dangerous then and it takes time for populations to adapt to freedom.
Before Saddam fell, Iraq was a very stable society. Everybody knew their place. Whatever violence did occur was planned violence organized by the state. Under perfect control. It could be turned on or off upon demand from Saddam, its dictator. …. Everyone lived in fear and no-one stood out. Most people who did not join the thugocracy, simply tried to live quiet lives minding their own business, praising Saddam, and staying below the radar screens of the security forces.
Democracy as it was suggested by the US lead process introduced many confusing new concepts that Iraqis are not familiar with. The notion that power would be passed to weak, passive people who mind their own business and just quietly go about their lives was a novel yet threatening idea. Women would be asked their opinion, meek and quiet people would have the same rights as the traditional thugs. And power would also be distributed by population size, as opposed to the traditional Sunni domination of the Shiites.
Things shall appear very unstable for a while as Iraqis must figure out for themselves what rights they can demand. Until these rights become engrained as normal rights and rights that people can demand without fear, there shall always be those who see intimidation and instability as a weapon of power.
PS: Thanks for the Letters in Bottles links Steve and Brad and for the record, celery and macaroni are the two items that should never go into a chili pot.
