The Fog Over Iraq (Or How Almost To Agree With The President)

New York Times ^ | 11 January 2007 | David Brooks

[shrinkermd]

If the Democrats don’t like the U.S. policy on Iraq over the next six months, they have themselves partly to blame. There were millions of disaffected Republicans and independents ready to coalesce around some alternative way forward, but the Democrats never came up with anything remotely serious.

The liberals who favor quick exit never grappled with the consequences of that policy, which the Baker-Hamilton commission terrifyingly described. The centrists who believe in gradual withdrawal never explained why that wouldn’t be like pulling a tooth slowly. Joe Biden, who has the most intellectually serious framework for dealing with Iraq, was busy yesterday, at the crucial decision-making moment, conducting preliminary fact-finding hearings, complete with forays into Iraqi history

But the selling of the plan illustrates that this is not the whole story. The Iraqi government wants a unified non-sectarian solution in high-minded statements and in some distant, ideal world. But in the short term, and in the deepest reptilian folds of their brains, the Shiites are maneuvering amid the sectarian bloodbath all around.

[Cicero]

The difficulty, of course, is that Islam is not like Christianity. It does not recognize any difference between Church and State.

Even when you have an Established Church in the West, there is still some separation--kings and presidents on one side, bishops on the other. In Islam, there is no separation. They never understood that saying of Jesus: "Give unto Caesar that which is Caesar's, and unto God that which is God's."

Allah demands everthing, without exception, and the head of state is Allah's representative on earth. Islam calls on everyone to submit.

Maybe this conundrum can be solved, but it won't be easy.

[Gritty]

[micho]

The difficulty, of course, is that Islam is not like Christianity. It does not recognize any difference between Church and State. Even when you have an Established Church in the West, there is still some separation--kings and presidents on one side, bishops on the other. In Islam, there is no separation. They never understood that saying of Jesus: "Give unto Caesar that which is Caesar's, and unto God that which is God's." Allah demands everthing, without exception, and the head of state is Allah's representative on earth. Islam calls on everyone to submit. Maybe this conundrum can be solved, but it won't be easy.

Islam is thousands of years old. It's not going to happen in our life time - if ever!