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Politics : Formerly About Advanced Micro Devices -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: SilentZ who wrote (163839)	3/11/2003 9:49:23 AM
From: Joe NYC	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 1574028

z, It's a very typical phenomenon in the Arab world. For instance, Yasir Arafat also has lots of support, and he's as bad or worse than Saddam. I actually wonder what the result of a secret ballot even in Palestine be (even though in Palestine, the issue is complicated by the conflict with Israel). People who question Arafat in any way get killed routinely, so I doubt anyone has any idea about the true feelings of ordinary people there. >It wasn't the case in Eastern Europe. It was the case early on in the Cold War I am not sure it was ever the case. The communists were never chosen in any country in a free election. When they gained power through revolutions, violence, threats of violence, or through occupying Red Army and installed totalitarian regimes, there was a backlash even among the minority who were sympathetic to communist ideas. If we really could put together an effective communications effort (I hate to use the word "propaganda," it's got such a negative connotation) with the people on the ground in Iraq, that might help. Well, among Kurds, the opposition to Saddam is overwhelming. I seem to recall that they are about 30% of the population. The Shiites, who are some 60% of the population, the support is also most likely very low, if any, so you are left with some 10% Sunni Arabs, where he may have some support. Joe