Administration Attitudes Will Harm Both Iraq and America

November 9, 2003

Publically, the Administration says the resistance in Iraq is mere desperation on the part of die-hard Baathists, criminals, thugs and foreign terrorists. It is more than that and they should know it. They fail to see the real power behind the resistance, the Iraqi people.

Twentieth century war history teaches that a nation that invades another will always loose in the end.  This lesson applies today.  This was not a war where Iraq attacked and we had to respond. We invaded using our weapons and soldiers.

The Iraq War was lost from the start but the Administration fails to see this. It  claims it was for "liberation" ignoring that it was an invasion and occupation which always causes resentment and resistance. This is why invasions do not work.

We have little in common with Iraqis and do not understand their culture. Our presence will be negative no matter how much we do or what we say. They will see us separate from them and we have failed to understand this.

Iraq is based on tribal values where relationships and traditional codes fuel the current nationalist insurgency.  Tribal code emphasize revenge responses thereby unifying one group with another.

The Iraqi insurgency is growing with the tacit support of its citizens. This type of movement is very powerful and not good news for us. It will always be "Us against them."

The relationship Bush wants to cultivate is that of a benevolent occupying power only desiring what's best for Iraqis. "We are in it together" attitude. We are "in it"  but we are not together.

Paul Wolfowitz  at a Baghdad press conference said the "main problem was that there were too many foreigners in Iraq". Talk about being blind to reality. Our soldiers are foreigners! 

Though the Administration gave little thought to a post- war Iraq and exit plan, the United States must eventually leave Iraq and let the Iraqi people decide their fate.

There are many unanswered questions. First, how and when are we to end our occupation ?  Were our efforts beneficial to the Iraqi people? Or did they mainly benefit American politicians and corporations?  Will the American people will look back a say, "It was worth it?"