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

To: JohnM who wrote (83704)	3/19/2003 10:15:40 AM
From: slacker711	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

Two interesting excerpts from your NYT article about the current mood in Iraq.... The first test for how this war is going to be received is the reaction of the Iraqi's. Hopefully, we get celebrations and not mobs looking to settle old scores. nytimes.com But what was left open was how far this subservience still extends among the 24 million Iraqis. Some part of the answer came from those who stayed up into the predawn hours of Tuesday to listen to shortwave radio relays of Mr. Bush's speech setting the ultimatum, then set out to ask foreigners when an American attack would begin. The striking thing was that for many Iraqis the first American strike could not come too soon. In part, this appeared to reflect a yearning for closure among a people who have lived on their nerves for months, as the prospect of a new war loomed. Among many Iraqis, the mood for some time has seemed to be that war, if it is inevitable, might as well come soon as late, so the country can move forward into whatever future the conflict determines. Many seemed ready to endure American air attacks and the armored thrusts that are expected to follow them if the outcome is a new Iraq that brings freedom from the long history of repression here. snip.... But in quieter moments today, other Iraqis were astonishingly frank in suggesting they were ready to endure war for liberty. One retired chemical engineer working as a taxi driver told a fare that he had listened to Mr. Bush. "People are waiting for America," he said, taking both hands off the wheel to simulate applause. This sudden candor has been a phenomenon starkly out of character with the neo-Stalinist atmosphere that has prevailed for so long in Iraq.

To: JohnM who wrote (83704)	3/19/2003 1:42:51 PM
From: Nadine Carroll	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

Yes, I find Burns very good on Iraq too. Did you notice this ending? But in quieter moments today, other Iraqis were astonishingly frank in suggesting they were ready to endure war for liberty. One retired chemical engineer working as a taxi driver told a fare that he had listened to Mr. Bush. "People are waiting for America," he said, taking both hands off the wheel to simulate applause. This sudden candor has been a phenomenon starkly out of character with the neo-Stalinist atmosphere that has prevailed for so long in Iraq. As far as I can see, there are only four populations with solid majority support for this war: Americans, Kuwaitis, Iranians and Iraqis. Interesting, the implications of that.