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

To: Karen Lawrence who wrote (53570)	10/21/2002 12:02:04 PM
From: Hawkmoon	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 281500

And you know what I AM impressed he's taking Bush so seriously and maneuvering out of harm's way by complying with the sanctionsand hopefully doing everything to avoid war, just as I would wish to avoid war. Karen, I think all of us can agree that the only reason Saddam is doing things such as releasing his political prisoners is because of pressure from Bush to overthrow him... But what should be learned from this is that the policies of previous leaders to merely "contain" Saddam have utterly failed in "reforming" him in any way, shape, or form. Clinton bombed him, placed sanctions on him, and tried to put him into a box. But they really had no affect upon him since he knew that he was "safe" from being overthrown... Only when his personal position is imperiled has he acted in any form which suggests an openess... Saddam is a bully.. no different that school yard bullies who terrorize other kids through intimidation and terror... He only understands either the use of, or the sincere threat of, coercive force. Because that's what HE has relied upon to control his people... But just like a bully who can no longer control the school yard when a greater power "fingers" him (like a teacher or principal), he reaches out to try to create temporary support from those who he has previously threatened and intimidated.. And those children will often respond positively because they recognize the teacher and principal will eventually return to their offices and they will be left alone to their own devices in dealing with the bully... But if that teach/principal is serious about disciplining the bully and removing him from that environment, the people will not support him, but will be willing to provide evidence to the authorities that result in the bully's expulsion. This is why it is all important to maintain the pressure upon Saddam and not be fooled into believing he is changing his ways and moderating.. It's nothing more than a ploy used by the semi-powerful to maintain control until they can become strong enough to intimidate the authorities (like packing a gun to school or beating up the principal). I hope you understand the analogy and see where it applies.. It may sound simplistic, but we're talking about human relations... and schoolyard lessons are perfectly applicable to many cases of international relations. Because all of them deal with power, often brutally obtained through terror and force, and someone willing to stand up and say "enough".. I too, desire to avoid war. The last thing I want to see is American boys and girls being forced to risk their lives to overthrow this two-bit tyrant.. But unless we're willing to leave forcible overthrow as a viable option, Saddam will not respond. Hawk