Our Iraq Misadventure
John H. Adler
May 09, 2006
When are we going to learn that the age of the Crusaders is long gone?
Our country is blessed with legions of serious thinkers. Why is it that no one counseled our leaders on the basic facts of Muslim-governed countries and the teachings of Islam? Although its disciples often misinterpreted the Koran, they clearly believe that all Muslim countries should be governed by a Supreme Cleric and that laws must follow the teachings of the Koran. The Muslim world is not ready for Democracy.
We invaded a country ruled by Saddam, a laic, non-religious tyrant who brutally suppressed the Shiite majority. Some people in the United States rightly predicted that once the dictator was toppled, a Pandora’s box would open, and we would not be able to close it. They were right.
The prediction has become reality, and let’s not forget that Iraq borders on Iran, whose Sunni-populated country is certain to make its influence felt.
The presence of our military in Iraq does not improve the political climate. We, the would-be liberators, are accused of being invaders and aggressors. We will not be able to put the genie back into the bottle.
We are facing the strong probability of a civil war between the majority Shiites who were suppressed by Hussein and the Sunnis who are now in the minority.
It is senseless to argue about whose fault it was to start the ill-fated invasion. It has become clear that the current administration disregarded the advice of its own secret service in order to favorably present the unjustified attack on Iraq to Congress and the people of the United States. Nevertheless, everyone who voted in favor of our aggression bears a degree of guilt. People seem to have forgotten the ravishes of war and the toll it takes on everybody. It is incumbent upon the American Government to declare a Tactical Withdrawal and bring our young men home. They have absolutely no reason to be there. They should never have been sent there.
Neither the United States, Europe, nor the United Nations will be able to force a secular, democratic government on Iraq. Recently we have learned that the right to vote does not necessarily mean a state of democracy. Look at Iran and Palestine. Did the right to vote improve the situation? Did it bring democracy?
Our government does not want to admit defeat. In order to accomplish what we had planned to achieve by the invasion, we would have to maintain a large fighting force in Iraq for many years to come. The American people are rightly opposed to that.
In the end we will probably wind up with a divided Iraq cut into “Islamic States” divided by various factions or smaller religious fiefdoms. Unable to bring this conflict to a conclusion that will satisfy our government and the inability to stem the seemingly endless supply of insurgents, we should withdraw our troops in order to avoid more casualties. We will not be able to shake the Muslims’ strong belief in Islam and its cleric leaders.
We have started an avalanche. Regardless of our strategic interest in this part of the world, let us get out of the way before we become buried by it.
Our country is blessed with legions of serious thinkers. Why is it that no one counseled our leaders on the basic facts of Muslim-governed countries and the teachings of Islam? Although its disciples often misinterpreted the Koran, they clearly believe that all Muslim countries should be governed by a Supreme Cleric and that laws must follow the teachings of the Koran. The Muslim world is not ready for Democracy.
We invaded a country ruled by Saddam, a laic, non-religious tyrant who brutally suppressed the Shiite majority. Some people in the United States rightly predicted that once the dictator was toppled, a Pandora’s box would open, and we would not be able to close it. They were right.
The prediction has become reality, and let’s not forget that Iraq borders on Iran, whose Sunni-populated country is certain to make its influence felt.
The presence of our military in Iraq does not improve the political climate. We, the would-be liberators, are accused of being invaders and aggressors. We will not be able to put the genie back into the bottle.
We are facing the strong probability of a civil war between the majority Shiites who were suppressed by Hussein and the Sunnis who are now in the minority.
It is senseless to argue about whose fault it was to start the ill-fated invasion. It has become clear that the current administration disregarded the advice of its own secret service in order to favorably present the unjustified attack on Iraq to Congress and the people of the United States. Nevertheless, everyone who voted in favor of our aggression bears a degree of guilt. People seem to have forgotten the ravishes of war and the toll it takes on everybody. It is incumbent upon the American Government to declare a Tactical Withdrawal and bring our young men home. They have absolutely no reason to be there. They should never have been sent there.
Neither the United States, Europe, nor the United Nations will be able to force a secular, democratic government on Iraq. Recently we have learned that the right to vote does not necessarily mean a state of democracy. Look at Iran and Palestine. Did the right to vote improve the situation? Did it bring democracy?
Our government does not want to admit defeat. In order to accomplish what we had planned to achieve by the invasion, we would have to maintain a large fighting force in Iraq for many years to come. The American people are rightly opposed to that.
In the end we will probably wind up with a divided Iraq cut into “Islamic States” divided by various factions or smaller religious fiefdoms. Unable to bring this conflict to a conclusion that will satisfy our government and the inability to stem the seemingly endless supply of insurgents, we should withdraw our troops in order to avoid more casualties. We will not be able to shake the Muslims’ strong belief in Islam and its cleric leaders.
We have started an avalanche. Regardless of our strategic interest in this part of the world, let us get out of the way before we become buried by it.