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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: frankw1900 who wrote (21781)	3/20/2002 3:33:48 AM
From: Dayuhan	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

There are good reasons to doubt that we will receive a friendly reception in Iraq. First, it was not so long ago that we were dumping prodigious amounts of ordnance on the Iraqis. This practice often engenders a certain amount of resentment. It is clear in our minds that this action was aimed at Saddam Hussein, not the populace. It would not be wise to assume that the populace sees this the same way we do. Second, we have been the leading advocates of sanctions that have had a severe impact on the lives of ordinary Iraqis. Again, we would argue that this action was legitimate, necessary, and directed only at Saddam, but it is not certain that this distinction will be appreciated by those who have lived in hunger, or whose relatives have died for want of medicine. Third, we are discussing the invasion of another country, on grounds that are likely to appear fairly specious to the people of the country we are invading. Patriotism is not a sentiment restricted to the west, and the fastest way to rally public support behind even a very lousy government is to allow that government to hide its lousiness behind the banner of "fighting for our country". Saddam will doubtless claim that the Americans, having bombed Iraq and starved it, are now coming to reduce the country to a colony, subjugate it, and take away all the oil. This may seem very silly to you and me, but I have no doubt that many Iraqis, even those who don't much care for Saddam, will find it quite credible. We've rather a dubious reputation in that part of the world. I think it much wiser to assume that we will receive a hostile reception, and to plan on this basis.