The Messopotanian (Another great post from the Iraqi blogger)

We the Iraqis, find ourselves in the midst of a great turning point in human history. This is no dramatisation, no exaggeration. But if you make even a cursory perusal of the 6000 years or so history of Messopotamia, you will find that this, strangely, is the fate of this particular spot on the earth. Let us not get bogged in the confusing and painful details at this particular time and look at the essence of the matter.

Jolted and shocked by the events of September 11, the United States of America, the greatest and most powerful politico-economic power that humanity has ever known has realised that the advanced and rich western world can no longer ignore the plight of the poorer and underdeveloped world. Those "nation states", who have totally failed the test of self determination and self goverment, and degenerated into obscurantism, sectarianism, tribalism, and all the other isms of hell, pose a mortal danger, both to the people unfortunate to live there and to the Western civilisation itself. More so since the technical complexity of the advanced world render it particularly vulnerable. The danger is real, oh so real! Anybody doubting this is living in a fools paradise.

So Action was decided upon. Action to change the situation in this twilight zone ( c.f. George Orwel - 1984 ), action to bring the values and standards enjoyed by the prosperous world to these places, by force if necessary, by example preferably. And action was taken. this in a nutshell. Let who may tear their hair off. Let them protest until their lungs puncture and shout until their throats bleed. This is it. It is like all great movements in history, characterised by singlemindedness and overpowering impulse. The old style of european imperialism, which aimed at exploitation, cheap raw materials, and keeping people backward and in a state of peasant low existance, has gone and is no longer suitable for the world. A globalised world where every body can enjoy the freedoms and benefits taken for granted by the "advanced" world. This is liberal neo-imperialism. Is it eutopean, is it unrealisable ? I don't know the answer. But the campaign is already under way.

Years ago, in my earlier youth, had I heard somebody talking like this, my hair would have stood on end, I would have been thrown into a fit of rage enough to give me heart attack. But years of suffering, years ground to dust and wasted living under a system which had hardly anything right in it, atavism which took us back to a moral state comparable to that that existed even before the reforms of Islam fifteen centuries ago, have finally brought me to this forlorn conclusion: that perhaps it is better this way - perhaps that really, salvation lies herein.

Caution to the wind. Consider this: if the U.S. tommorrow announces that anybody willing to come to its land would be given the "Green Card" immediately with no further question, how many people do you think would stand in line? Answer this question if you dare ? Why if Western values are so bad and so terrible would you find Muslim, Hindu, Buddist, and every colour and every breed standing in that hypothetical line, in their billions ?

But America cannot take in the entire humanity, so america decides to go to them instead.

This guy is right on, especially with these comments in another blog:

"I note that most of my visitors are american. This is natural and welcom really. American public opinion is a matter of life and death to us here, at this particular time. The 'enemy' ( let us call them that at the moment and they include some Iraqis too, to be absolutely honest ), is doing his damn best to influence american and western public opinion. He has people monitoring, watching, relaying back information. [And our media willingly play into their hands - Oatka] He has allies, especially amongst the other non-iraqi arabs.

This dancing, over wrecked vehicles, he discovers is most graphic and effective. Any ordinary american watching this on T.V. is likely to be very upset. The enemy is past master at this. I mean he may not be very briliant militarily, but when it comes to psychological torture, they are the greatest masters of the 'art' in human history. I bet you anything that for each operation carried out in a certain well known area by now, a chorus is prepared and asked to go and dance for the benifit of photographers of the press, most likely notified of the show before hand.

Oherwise are some of these 'spontaneous' ? - Probably.

But people: don't forget, the mob also danced as Jesus (PBU ) bore the Cross. The mob is the mob. All we can say of any 'spontaneous' manifestations is exactly what Jesus (PBU) said : 'Lord forgive them for they know not what they are doing'

Salam Alaykum

PBU stands for : Peace Be Upon Him, as we traditionly say when holy prophets are mentioned.

Then there are the 'reports' and immages, carefully and skillfully manipulated to show arson, burning and injury. But, they keep protesting, this is honest journalism, this is news, they are heroes and great people doing a dangerous job to bring out 'the reality' to the world. Even the western media seem to be part of it."

Comment I sent:

Dear Friend, an American website linked to your blog.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1017142/posts?page=1

As a fellow middle-aged father and engineer, but in US (from Texas),
I can imagine that despite differences of culture and language, we are not too different. I even can laugh that you see "media bias" in Al-Jazeera; we'll we get it here in the US too.

Your voice of understanding is thrilling to me, and would be to the many Americans who have family (I have a cousin) in this effort and who want this effort to succeed. I know it will.

I actively worked to support the US military liberation of Iraq. I supported President Bush and I urged him and Congress to support removing Saddam Hussein from power by any means. When the Communists and Saddam supporters world-wide protested America's march to war in february, I went to the march too: With a sign that simply said "Liberate Iraq". I challenged those who claimed we should leave Saddam alone by pointing out his support of terrorists and his brutality to the Iraqi people. The coalition troops and the US engaged in freeing Iraq from dictatorship and guiding it to democracy because: Where-ever tyranny exists, it threatens freedom. We protect our own freedom from te threat of terrorism (Al Quaeda etc.) by advancing the freedom and democracy of the world.

I am saying this all to make a simple point. First, to thank you for "getting it", for appreciating the American efforts for what they are. Second, to urge you to be active in building the new Iraq. In the end both Iraqis and Americans understand this new Iraq will be the responsibility of the sovereign Iraqi people. The question mark of the doubters is based on the pessimism that building a stable, democratic Iraq is not possible to be 'imposed', that there is no common ground between Western values and Arab culture, etc.

Understand one thing: Americans like me have no interest in throwing away victory for freedom - not now, not next year. Americans paid with their lives for this, and we will see it through. We will be there until the new Iraq can stand alone - free, democratic, independent, and sovereign.

Your (and Iraqi people) greatest 'thank you' for America's efforts would be to help make your country free, stable and democratic and defeat the opponents and terrorists fighting that change. It is encouraging to hear words from men like Talabani (head of IGC) that understand what the terrorists are doing. They wont win.

Lastly, it is romantic and idealistic to say that the whole world deserves freedom, but so was a man like Mahatma Ghandi, and he achieved much (from a colony to world's largest democracy). What human would say "no, I dont want it"? Why not imagine World Freedom? Ideals implemented well is how humanity advances. God Bless.

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