Posted on 02/05/2005 5:30:16 PM PST by saquin
Talk about a bald-faced attempt to spin down the success of the Bush Admin against all the naysayers.
No, the Iraqis aren't thanking America. They just have forgotten what we did.
To quote the late great Dean Wormer, "I hate those guys".
The New York Times? Is the war over in Iraq or what?
You mean the NYT printed this? Pinch must be out of the country for this to make it to the pages.
...asked how it had been possible for somebody like him to arrive at such a late stage in life without ever having voted, and now finally to have cast a ballot. He thought for a long while, then answered: "America - it was America that did it."
They haven't forgotten what we did. But they've stopped blaming every problem on us, expecting us to do everything for them and projecting all their hopes and fears and frustrations on us. That's a good thing. It's their country.
Wow! A decent article from the NY Slimes.
ping
I'm not blaming the Iraqis. I am blaming the Slimes. Notice that the paragraph you referenced was buried below the premilinary spin.
It must have been really hard for the NYT's to publish this
Gawd it must really stick in the craw of the NYT editors to have to publish this column....
I know. I guess I just didn't read it the same way as you. I don't think it's a bad thing that the Iraqis have stopped incessantly talking about "the Americans" so I don't think it's bad that the Times article says that. Overall, it's a very positive article.
I feel proud of the Iraqis in a big brother-little brother way. It's satisfying to see them starting to stand up and take responsibility for themselves. W said this would happen.
No, this is a good thing. The Iraqis are looking to themselves for the things they need, not to us. Did you read the rest of the article?
Now that they feel sovereign, they accept our presence more than ever, knowing they can ask us to leave if they choose, and we will do it.
This is key to understanding the Iraqis. In their eyes, by removing Hussein, we made the Iraqi people look weak and impotent. It's their time now.
I look at placement within the article. Look at how it started:
BAGHDAD, Iraq — Through 22 months of occupation and war here, the word "America" was usually the first word to pass through the lips of an Iraqi with a gripe. Why can't the Americans produce enough electricity? Why can't the Americans guarantee security? Why can't the Americans find my stolen car?
It's never about the insurgents sabotaging the infrastructure. It's never about the remnants of the Saddam regime. It's the fault of the Americans.
And then, suddenly, the story isn't about realizing that the Americans brought the good of the election. It goes from BAD AMERICANS to BAD IRAQI GOVERNMENT. And no statement of the good of the election itself.
Sorry, I can't see anything but a positive statement of achievement here. If what this writer says is true, we accomplished our goal.
See my post #16. This is the Slimes trying to spin this in the worst possible way.
I think it's a great thing.
Where in this article is the acknowledgement that none of this would have happened without America? Look at this sentence:
And when Iraqis did talk of America, it was with a reasonableness and patience that had seemed missing, a willingness to balance good with bad, to give credit where it is due.
For cryin' out loud, these people owe their freedom to us. And most realize that. But the Slimes is trying to dilute that fact.
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