Laboring Under Illusions

That big speech given by the president - ya, the one on Wednesday night, I finally heard parts of it. Mr. Bush thinks that the Iraqi's owe the Americans "gratitude". I believe he still thinks that the Iraqi's will welcome the Americans with rose petals just like it was predicted before the war and he probably has some theory about why that hasn't happened yet. Maybe its the Syrians who are denying the funding needed to buy those petals? I mean, with inflation in Iraq so high, things must be really expensive!

We know the president is labouring under many illusions, but the illusion that the Iraqi's owe gratitude is one he needs to part with. In fact, Halliburton's (and other oil companies) profits show that the President has gotten way more than his share of gratitude for this war. In addition, maybe Condi should remind him that the Americans helped the Allies in World War II and look how much gratitude they got for that! Junior just doesn't seem to get it! Maybe a "surge" in the number of daddy's friends in the White House might help him come to terms with reality? Then again, maybe not, seeing as how the Baker-Hamilton commission report has been flushed down the toilet.

While on the speech and Iraq, my friend Deane wants to know what I think should be done. I think that if you are going to send troops, send enough to actually make a difference. The "Coalition of the Willing" is not so willing anymore and therefore the Americans need to cover up for that loss, and then add some more.

However, I think the Americans should pull out their troops too. Sometimes leaders have to follow, especially when you are not doing much of a job of leading. The only way to turn this around is to let the Iraqi's hit "rock bottom" and the presence of the Americans is delaying that. Leave, let them hit "rock bottom" and figure out on their own and in their own way what needs to be done. Its going to be bloody, and not what the Americans want to happen or how the Americans want it to happen, but it will happen. When it does, it is more than likely that Saddam II would rise to the top, but hey, that's the best that can be hoped for under the circumstances. At least we can be sure that Al Qaeda will not be in Iraq anymore.

We must also make note of the argument that Islamic countries can never have democracy in the way the west wants them too. I believe there is a basis for this argument though I don't believe it to be entirely true. On the other hand, the Americans need to understand that the uniqueness of their development gives them a different perception and understanding of things and that they cannot force their values on other nations that have not undergone the same development and don't see things their way.

However, if you still want to force your values on to other nations, do the whole package and not just the ones that serve your interests.