Letters to the Editor
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Let's raise Saddam from the dead
Let's get Saddam Hussein's body, fill it with formaldehyde, cover it with makeup, and do everything else we can to make him look presentable. Then let's use wires and sticks and hidden wheels to make him stand up, wave and do other stuff. It will be just like Weekend at Bernie's, except instead of Saddam waterskiing, he'll be running a wacky nation in a veritable laff riot of side-splitting dictatorship!
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wow
This was quite an insight into the Iraqi mindset. While I share the view of others on this post that Omar's temporary solution is not the best idea, and sounds a lot like the "return of Saddam" (would an iron-fist dictator allow himself to be voted out in a year?), I do agree with Omar's core message that the Iraqis themselves must stand up, put aside old differences, and fix this problem themselves. They're the only ones who can.
It's unfortunate that the Iraqi exiles we listened to prior to the invasion turned out to be "crooks", as he put it, and that definitely contributed to the current situation, as did the blunders of the Bush administration after the major fighting was over. I hope that Omar's desire to help his people, and to one day return, is realized, and that the Iraqis can end the violence and become a free nation.
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Our victory in Iraq must be the Iraqis'.
Excellent to hear from a true son of Iraq and a father to its future. For delivering the scoop and honest analysis of past and ongoing troubles from an eye-witness, thanks Gary. Best of luck to the seemingly, imminently qualified Mr. Fekeiki in achieving his brave ambitions.
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@ h_lance
Well, this discussion board certainly shows up the problem
Agreed.
As a number of posts have noted, the idea that the "solution" to Iraq's problems is for the US to set up a brutal, authoritarian dictatorship is utterly insane.
Indeed, this very paragraph "shows up the problem," though several others in the discussion so far would serve as well. Rather than contemplate a solution that offends our image of ourselves, we will reject it out of hand and spout a lot of hyperbole and vitriol (betraying no small amount of magical thinking along the way).
As the man says, Americans won't listen. What he perhaps doesn't see is that they can't listen because they still manage to labor under a host of delusions about who they are, what their role in the world is, and how real human affairs really work.
The ultimate question here ought to be, what solution is least bad for the Iraqis? We at least owe it to them to think long and hard about that question, not retreat from it because the answer might not be consistent with our self-image.
I'm prepared to walk away, too, if that's the best solution for the people whose country we have destroyed. But unlike a lot of folks here I'm prepared to listen carefully and take quite seriously the ideas of an Iraqi who says that isn't the best solution for his people. And I'm not prepared to reject a solution just because it offends the virtuous self-image I wish to possess.
Sometimes you don't have the choice of doing the right thing. You only have the choice of doing the least wrong thing, or doing nothing. And unless doing nothing is the least wrong thing, it ain't virtue. It's just self-delusion.
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Execute the terrorists...
That phrase jumped out at me..
Excellent idea..
Now for one quick question:
In what substantive way does "Shock and Awe" differ from "Terror"?
Execute the terrorists..
Ooohhkaay... I can get on board with that, as long as we are evenhanded about it and don't let some terrorists off because we don't see them as terrorists.
Let's not kid ourselves, the real architects of the horror that is Iraq will never even have the finger pointed at them, let alone be executed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lK_QshS2EW8
"Punishing Saddam"
May 12, 1996
"We think the price is worth it"
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Last Chance
If the US decides to stay the only solution must involve power
sharing and oil sharing. I really don't see this happening under the Bush/McCain administration nor the Clinton administration.
Maybe President Obama would have a go at it. This might need outside help and definitely help from cooler heads inside Iraq.
The premise would be to vest every citizen in Iraq of the oil profits. This program would be similar to what is being done in Alaska with the Permanent Fund. Start paying dividend checks to
all the citizens. This would take time ( addresses, census, postal integrity, etc.) but the word will spread and eventually most if not all the population would want a piece of the action.
I would suggest the profits be split up: 25% to the corporation, 25% to the government, and 50% to the citizens. Giving it all to the government, the corporations, or the tribal leaders accomplishes nothing but continued chaos.
The appeal of wealth could cut across religious, ethnic, and political factions. Consider the reception an Al-qaeda thug or
mullah would have when he orders his minions to give back their money which then increases the return of their rival neighbor.
Areas that cause trouble are shut off from the money until they solve the problem.
The typical western response is to buy off the chieftains who then control the people. It is obvious, except the Bush administration, this is a failed policy. Bush has thrown millions at this problem and they're still at square one clueless as ever.
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No one can save "Iraq"
"Iraq" had for years exactly the kind of regime Mr.Fekeiki is proposing : under Saddam Hussein. If that's such a great idea, why did we object to him? Seriously, a major part of the problem is that so many people keep referring to "Iraq" as if it were a country. It was an insult to all Arabs, created in England for the purpose of weakening the Arabs, and preserving the Empire. Why in the world would any Arab want any part of it, except for very selfish reasons..Just because some foreigners drew up a map way back in the forgotten (by Westerners) past, it is absurd to suppose that the people who live there would revere it as if they were "patriotic" about it. (Of course, in Arab history they have not really had much experience with being a "Nation".) It does not serve any legitimate purpose to "save Iraq". disigny
A