The world loves America but resists its power...
From an article by Rami G Khouri from the Lebanese paper The Daily Star
"...the projection and prominence of American power in the world is one of the new realities that we are all still adjusting to and trying to manage in a constructive way. In some cases, the unfortunate among us simply try to get out of the way when the American Marines are ordered to march. In other cases, political activists and business people around the world work enthusiastically with their American counterparts on issues like promoting democracy and human rights, raising education standards or investing in hi-tech industries. Americans themselves are also learning about what they can and cannot do abroad, and in places like Iraq they are quickly learning the limits of their massive military power."
Full article here
From the same paper, today's editorial...
"We in the Arab world are shocked by the ease with which so many American journalists and commentators are calling for the speedy withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. After cajoling the international community into accepting this war and then transforming Iraq into a horrific scene of terrorist violence and sectarian strife, Americans are starting to realize that creating a stable and democratic Iraq will entail much more work than they had bargained for. And as citizens of the world's sole superpower, they have the luxury of being fickle, while Iraqis are left to suffer in the wake of their invasion, occupation and withdrawal......
.....There is no doubt that building a peaceful and stable Iraq will be costly, time consuming and not at all easy. But the leadership in Washington has made a promise on behalf of the American people that they will see this adventure through to that end. The Americans have made a vow of friendship to the Iraqi people that ought not be broken. While we in the Arab world welcome efforts to promote peace and democracy, we are not in need of fair weather friends"
"...the projection and prominence of American power in the world is one of the new realities that we are all still adjusting to and trying to manage in a constructive way. In some cases, the unfortunate among us simply try to get out of the way when the American Marines are ordered to march. In other cases, political activists and business people around the world work enthusiastically with their American counterparts on issues like promoting democracy and human rights, raising education standards or investing in hi-tech industries. Americans themselves are also learning about what they can and cannot do abroad, and in places like Iraq they are quickly learning the limits of their massive military power."
Full article here
From the same paper, today's editorial...
"We in the Arab world are shocked by the ease with which so many American journalists and commentators are calling for the speedy withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. After cajoling the international community into accepting this war and then transforming Iraq into a horrific scene of terrorist violence and sectarian strife, Americans are starting to realize that creating a stable and democratic Iraq will entail much more work than they had bargained for. And as citizens of the world's sole superpower, they have the luxury of being fickle, while Iraqis are left to suffer in the wake of their invasion, occupation and withdrawal......
.....There is no doubt that building a peaceful and stable Iraq will be costly, time consuming and not at all easy. But the leadership in Washington has made a promise on behalf of the American people that they will see this adventure through to that end. The Americans have made a vow of friendship to the Iraqi people that ought not be broken. While we in the Arab world welcome efforts to promote peace and democracy, we are not in need of fair weather friends"
posted by Madame Chiang at 8:02 pm
2 Comments:
I don't dipsute the point the writer makes. However there is a difference about what is good for the Arab world vs what is good for American strategic interests. The longer the US remains engaged in Iraq, the more it diverts resources and American lives from the real issues and threats to American security, on some pretext of nation building.
Furthermore, I'm sad the writer does not also take the Arab world to task, for not having to the ability to get their collective stuff together themselves. If there were anything to the concept of Arab unity, the Arab league or other Arab nations would take on the security of Iraq and work to get American troops out of the region. Quite simply they won't do it, because its too easy to let the Americans do it. All the while laughing all the way to the bank while enjoying oil at 65 dollars a barrel.
As long as the Arab world has the millstone of Islam around its neck, it will never progress into the first world.
In the end the US should leave and soon. Our strategic objectives are complete. Now its time to throw them into the deep end of the pool and see if they can swim.
I agree that the Arab world should have become more involved...and it's still not too late. Although I think it would be seen as even more of an 'invasion' if Saudi or Syria were to send their troops in that a non-Arab country.
However, I disagree on the 'pulling out'...both America and Britain went in with a plan...to rid the world of Saddam Hussein and prevent the use of WMD (which we now discover are not to be found)....unfortunately they did not go in with a plan for the aftermath....and this is where we have failed Iraq and this is why we have to stay to clean up the mess that we have created....I actually wrote a post about these thoughts in June....
link here
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