Iraqis and freedom
There have been a few articles recently suggesting that Iraqis may not be ready for freedom. These articles focus on the apparent complacency of many Iraqis as well as their lack of initative.
The problem with this analysis is that it does not take into account the nature of Saddam's rule. He combined socialism with sadism that required a submissive personality to survive. Those who were not submissive either fled Iraq or were tortured or killed. The relationship between the govenment and the governed was based on BDSM--bondage, disipline, sadeo-masicism. When a submissive loses their dominant, they are initially lost and unable to function. They have been conditioned with punishment if they showed initiative in the pass.
It will take some time to overcome the inertia of the submissive society created by Saddams sadism.
Al Qaeda makes war against another hotel lobby?
The attack on the hotel in Baghdad where UN staffers operated has some elements of an al Qaeda type attack. It was similar to the battle of the Marriott lobby in Indonesia a few days ago. The other possibility would be Hizballah. They used a truck bomb to attack a Marine barracks in Lebanon in the 80's.
Hizballah, however usually is much more focused in their attacks than al Qaeda. Hizballah tends to go after strategic targets as opposed to al Qaeda's attacks on "soft" targets. Al Qaeda has shown a propensity for making enemies when they do not have to. An attack on the UN that generally resisted the liberation of Iraq may make sense to Osama, but hardly make sense to Iraqis whether they like the liberation or not.
The UN mission was largely humanitarian. In Afghanistan, the Taliban and al Qaeda were always biting the hand reaching out to feed them. It was not unusualy for the warehouses of the aid organizations to be looted by the Taliban or their al Qaeda allies.
What is the political objective of the attack on the UN hotel lobby. Having failed to drive the US out of Iraq with Mogudishu type attacks, the focus has apparently turned to the UN where other countries are being urged to join the policing of Iraq. If UN member countries are routed by a hotel bombing the organization will sink into further irrelevance. It should have no effect on the US mission in Iraq. De-Baathification will continue.
If al Qaeda is attacking in Iraq, as they have been recently in Saudi Arabia it shows the wisdom of the war to liberate Iraq. Al Qaeda is expending its resources in the middle east and not in the US. It shows that al Qaeda has lost the initiative in its war with the US. It is responding to attacks on its own organization and that of its allies. It has finally prompted Saudi Arabia and its clerics to go on the offensive against their ideology.
Recent reports suggest 65% of al Qaeda's leadership has been killed or captured. It has become an orgaization that is continuing to attrite its membership and leadership. This is another positive effect of the war on terror, including the liberation of Iraq.
There have been a few articles recently suggesting that Iraqis may not be ready for freedom. These articles focus on the apparent complacency of many Iraqis as well as their lack of initative.
The problem with this analysis is that it does not take into account the nature of Saddam's rule. He combined socialism with sadism that required a submissive personality to survive. Those who were not submissive either fled Iraq or were tortured or killed. The relationship between the govenment and the governed was based on BDSM--bondage, disipline, sadeo-masicism. When a submissive loses their dominant, they are initially lost and unable to function. They have been conditioned with punishment if they showed initiative in the pass.
It will take some time to overcome the inertia of the submissive society created by Saddams sadism.
Al Qaeda makes war against another hotel lobby?
The attack on the hotel in Baghdad where UN staffers operated has some elements of an al Qaeda type attack. It was similar to the battle of the Marriott lobby in Indonesia a few days ago. The other possibility would be Hizballah. They used a truck bomb to attack a Marine barracks in Lebanon in the 80's.
Hizballah, however usually is much more focused in their attacks than al Qaeda. Hizballah tends to go after strategic targets as opposed to al Qaeda's attacks on "soft" targets. Al Qaeda has shown a propensity for making enemies when they do not have to. An attack on the UN that generally resisted the liberation of Iraq may make sense to Osama, but hardly make sense to Iraqis whether they like the liberation or not.
The UN mission was largely humanitarian. In Afghanistan, the Taliban and al Qaeda were always biting the hand reaching out to feed them. It was not unusualy for the warehouses of the aid organizations to be looted by the Taliban or their al Qaeda allies.
What is the political objective of the attack on the UN hotel lobby. Having failed to drive the US out of Iraq with Mogudishu type attacks, the focus has apparently turned to the UN where other countries are being urged to join the policing of Iraq. If UN member countries are routed by a hotel bombing the organization will sink into further irrelevance. It should have no effect on the US mission in Iraq. De-Baathification will continue.
If al Qaeda is attacking in Iraq, as they have been recently in Saudi Arabia it shows the wisdom of the war to liberate Iraq. Al Qaeda is expending its resources in the middle east and not in the US. It shows that al Qaeda has lost the initiative in its war with the US. It is responding to attacks on its own organization and that of its allies. It has finally prompted Saudi Arabia and its clerics to go on the offensive against their ideology.
Recent reports suggest 65% of al Qaeda's leadership has been killed or captured. It has become an orgaization that is continuing to attrite its membership and leadership. This is another positive effect of the war on terror, including the liberation of Iraq.
Comments
Post a Comment