All the experts from the Brookings Institution to the Saudi Ambassador warn us against an immediate troop withdraw from Iraq. The reasons stated include; victory for the Islam extremist and/or major civil war and/or a complete breakdown of Iraq society as sectarian violence tears the country apart. In addition, these experts fear that a regional war could evolve as other Arab countries protect their sect from defeat in the Iraq or worst yet try to obtain part of Iraq for themselves.
I firmly believe that all the forgoing is true and correct. My point is, I don”t care. Our objective in going into Iraq was to prevent Islamic extremist from obtaining weapons of mass destruction (WMD) from Iraq. We accomplished that mission. We now know for absolute certainty that Iraq can”t give WMD to Islamic extremists. Our subsequent goal of nation building in Iraq was ill advised and a colossal mistake.
I am convinced that we failed at nation building in Iraq solely because of the culture of the Arab world. Remember, we committed mistakes and atrocities in Japan at the end of WWII.
In the case of Iraq, the Arab Islamic culture is male dominated extremely sexist society; rewards patronage, observes major religious prejudice, tribal law and loyalty, a belief that the truth has many sides, low tolerance for the rights of anyone not of their image, a belief that might makes right, revenge is a duty of the offended.
The Arab Islamic world is stagnated socially in the thirteen century. The in law, business, and government, communications between individuals are marked by envy, distrust, dishonesty and revenge. All negotiations are tests of misleading shrewdness and cunning.
However, let us still try to get something for our blood, money and tears. My proposal is that the U. S. approach the League of Arab Nations with the idea that we will not only leave Iraq, but we will also leave all of the Arab League Nations for the payment of $500 billion. If they refuse this offer, OK& We do it anyway, and our troops will be home safe during the Great Arab War of 2007. We can then deal later with who is left standing.
John G. Daniels
Lakeport
