"Wasn't too long ago we were being told our troops would be in Iraq for decades, not so?"
People living in countries where brutal oppression has existed for generations have adapted differently than people who live in countries where they have the right to entertain opposing ideas, free enterprise, and autonomy of life style. Many do not trust any system of government to have a positive regard for their personal interests without some sort of pay off or subjugation. So, naturally when there is any doubt, they support their tribal kinsmen or cultural leaders when it looks like a power struggle is the only way; as that would be the only way to get their needs met and to avoid being victim to genocide. Simple survival for the have nots in such a culture often involves conduct and compromises that we would find abhorant in a place like America.
In my opinion it could take as much as three generations for the character of the people in Iraq to fully trust a government that is equitable and affords rights and freedoms to diverse groups and individuals. There is a great risk that such a government will not take hold in the first place. Character emerges from culture, sometimes in rebellion to a sick culture, more often in support of culture, always as an adaptation to culture.
I don't think the Bush Administration had a clue what they were getting into when this all began. But now we are in, so grow up and get over it.
The current circumstance is that Iraq sits on the wealth of the world, poses a threat to the economic stability of the world, has tentative support from either Iran who has a modern military, Arabia with additional wealth, Egypt, Jordan, Siria, Palestine etc, and the potential of some allied western countries that could threaten the continuation of Western society as we know it. You also have the potential of the Al-Mahdi Army, Al-Qaida or a similar group to achieve a multi-national superpower status based in Iraq with the similar/identical goals of destruction of western society.
The Iraqi people are depending on us; we abandon them at our own peril, IMO. |
