It appears to me that you seem to feel that the shia moslums are just using America to gain control and after they gain full control they will likely join forces with Iran one of America's enemies. You also seem to think that the different factions of moslums can not be trusted just as I do.
If it's a question of trust, we should remember that after the first Gulf War George Bush Sr. publicly urged Iraqis to rise up against Saddam. The Shiites in Southern Iraq did. Then, with hundreds of thousands of American troops still in the war zone, with thousands still in Iraq, Saddam used what was left of his armed forces to crush the revolt, killing thousands of Shiites.
After that debacle, many Shia took refuge in neighboring Iran, whose branch of Islam is similar to that practiced by the Iraqi Shia. Now Saddam is gone, at some point within the next ten years American troops will probably be gone, leaving the Shiites to deal with their Sunni neighbors. Where is the natural alliance? With America, half a world away, or with Iranian Shia, across the river?
You use the phrase "join forces with Iran, one of America's enemies." I don't think that is entirely accurate. The Iraqi and Iranian Shia are close and share a cultural heritage, but they are not a monolithic entity. The situation in Islam is not unlike what exists in many religions... Catholics, for example, are led by the Pope. Yet many who consider themselves good Catholics openly disagree with the Pope on a number of issues.
The situation with the Shia in Iraq is similar. Yes, there is a natural bond between the Iraqi and Iranian Shia, but it is not absolute. The Iraqi Shia will act in their own perceived self-interest. If that means siding with America to protect themselves from hostile Sunnis, that's what they will do. If it means broadly alligning themselves with Iran to have some influence in a post-Saddam era, thats what they will do.
You consider such actions "untrustworthy". However, if that's the case, Bush Sr. was untrustworthy. Catholics are untrustworthy. The French? LOL! Perhaps even Americans who voted against Bush a few months ago are untrustworthy?
Despite George's famous line, "You are with us or against us." It's simply not that black and white. To illustrate that another way, even black and white George has had to deal with Pakistan, a nation that has refused to allow it's top nuclear scientist, a kingpin in the proliferation of nuclear technology to, among others, Iran, to be questioned by US experts. Despite intelligence that Osama is in Northern Pakistan, Pakistan has simply said "No, he is not there." and ceased military operations in that region.
Untrustworthy? Or trustworthy to a degree?
Interesting world we live in, isn't it? |
