Iraq: A Failure to Understand
Alan E. Moses
November 13, 2006
It was two years ago, Monday November, 15 2004 that the highest ranking Shia authority, Shaikh Muhammad Mahdi al-Khalissi spoke with the Arabic news outlet Aljazeera. He firmly stated that “No matter how powerful the occupation forces are, they will be driven out of Iraq sooner or later.” This appears to becoming fact as time has shown that Mahdi al-Khalissi understood his country better than our government did.
There was a book first published in the United States by a B.J Kelly in 1980. “Arabia the Gulf & the West.” Kelly based his conclusions on what was learned by the British government after 150 years of involvement in the region. The lessons learned including the never ending reasons for instability such as, Racial and sectarian differences as well as tribal and dynastic rivalries. Include other publications from the 1970’s through the 90’s, One must ask why such facts were ignored with an appearance of total lack of understanding by the Bush Administration?
Was this as simple as what many claim as our governmental leaders lack of understanding its own peoples needs? Has our government become so detached from the differences that make up the people of the world? Could it really be expected for the people of Iraq to just disregard the only way of life that they have understood for generations? Are they to stop all traditions and ignore their own cultures? There must be some understanding of what a democracy is and how it works in order for all of the factions to see how it could benefit them. When you are taught that a leader assumes power not by vote or consensus. But in ways of tradition, to force the concept of democracy seems unrealalistic.
How can the Sunni population accept a Shia Muslim to now dominate them? You cannot expect the Shia to except generational rival Kurds as equal partners. These are issues that were not factored in as was required to pave the way for a nonviolent transition. President Bush failed to gain the support of these separate factions before the invasion. And this has proven to be the major stumbling block that we now see in Iraq.
I would hope that this adventure is a great lesson for the future as true stability depends on it. The United States can longer allow the Defense Department to decide foreign Policy. It must remain the job of the State Department. I would hope that we would have experts in all aspects of not only the government involved but the people also. It is too obvious that not all governments carry the same ideals as its people.
Another lesson that should be learned is just how badly our intelligence community failed. They did not have the pulse of the people of Iraq at all. Not to mention the weapons of mass destruction or lack of, or just how fragile Saddam’s regime had become. He lacked Allies of any significance either inside or outside his borders. The war with Iran and his failed attempt to seize Kuwait had weakened his ability to threaten his neighbors any longer. He missed his chance to solidify a relationship with the west and therefore his regime was in decline. All of these facts were ignored as our failure to understand has shown.
This tragic mistake of judgment can only be rectified by political means as the military option has not brought the desired outcome. We must not just pullout as this would create even more instability in Iraq and the region. This job has just become harder as we must ensure that Iraq can survive as a whole and not infect the other nations of the region. We must now involve other Arab and Muslim nations to join the peace process and to place their influence upon the outcome. Something we will have to except.
There was a book first published in the United States by a B.J Kelly in 1980. “Arabia the Gulf & the West.” Kelly based his conclusions on what was learned by the British government after 150 years of involvement in the region. The lessons learned including the never ending reasons for instability such as, Racial and sectarian differences as well as tribal and dynastic rivalries. Include other publications from the 1970’s through the 90’s, One must ask why such facts were ignored with an appearance of total lack of understanding by the Bush Administration?
Was this as simple as what many claim as our governmental leaders lack of understanding its own peoples needs? Has our government become so detached from the differences that make up the people of the world? Could it really be expected for the people of Iraq to just disregard the only way of life that they have understood for generations? Are they to stop all traditions and ignore their own cultures? There must be some understanding of what a democracy is and how it works in order for all of the factions to see how it could benefit them. When you are taught that a leader assumes power not by vote or consensus. But in ways of tradition, to force the concept of democracy seems unrealalistic.
How can the Sunni population accept a Shia Muslim to now dominate them? You cannot expect the Shia to except generational rival Kurds as equal partners. These are issues that were not factored in as was required to pave the way for a nonviolent transition. President Bush failed to gain the support of these separate factions before the invasion. And this has proven to be the major stumbling block that we now see in Iraq.
I would hope that this adventure is a great lesson for the future as true stability depends on it. The United States can longer allow the Defense Department to decide foreign Policy. It must remain the job of the State Department. I would hope that we would have experts in all aspects of not only the government involved but the people also. It is too obvious that not all governments carry the same ideals as its people.
Another lesson that should be learned is just how badly our intelligence community failed. They did not have the pulse of the people of Iraq at all. Not to mention the weapons of mass destruction or lack of, or just how fragile Saddam’s regime had become. He lacked Allies of any significance either inside or outside his borders. The war with Iran and his failed attempt to seize Kuwait had weakened his ability to threaten his neighbors any longer. He missed his chance to solidify a relationship with the west and therefore his regime was in decline. All of these facts were ignored as our failure to understand has shown.
This tragic mistake of judgment can only be rectified by political means as the military option has not brought the desired outcome. We must not just pullout as this would create even more instability in Iraq and the region. This job has just become harder as we must ensure that Iraq can survive as a whole and not infect the other nations of the region. We must now involve other Arab and Muslim nations to join the peace process and to place their influence upon the outcome. Something we will have to except.
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