Nobody Loves a Liberator (Liberal Media ALERT)

NY Times ^ | April 13, 2003 | ANTONY BEEVOR

[FairOpinion]

The news from Iraq has changed. Statue-toppling and impromptu street celebrations have given way to looting and factional violence. Already, there's a whiff of resentment toward the United States and England for not being quick enough to provide food, water and security to the country.

This shift, sudden though it was, should not have come as a surprise. Few countries love their liberators once the cheering dies away. This is especially true when they feel humiliated.

Almost 60 years ago another country was freed by American and British forces: France. In fact, one cannot help wondering whether President Jacques Chirac was thinking of 1944 when he tried to thwart the Anglo-American plan to free Iraq.

[FairOpinion]

This is totally disgusting, implying that we "humiliated" the Iraqis, and it also tries to justify France's anti-Americanism.

"It's all our fault".

Liberals are just unbelievable!

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[Timesink]

It ain't just liberals we have to worry about.

[samtheman]

Of course the liberals are looking for anything --- anything --- to hang on Bush and Rumsfeld in a negative way.

And of course it's ridiculous to expect a society to be well-ordered two days after a thirty year dictatorship falls.

However, mistakes have been made. Large hospitals should have been seized and held as military assets, not allowing medical equipment to be looted. And the big museum in Baghdad could have also been put on a list of "important military properties", to prevent the looting of billions in ancient art treasures.

These are both relatively minor points given the big picture, but it's too bad they were ignored.

[billhilly]

I despise the New York Times almost as much as I despise the two United States Senators from that state.

The regular people that we got to see after 9/11 are wonderful. If only their spirit could prevail, New York would, once again, be the envy of the world.

[goodnesswins]

Yes...if only New Yorkers (and other Americans) would be as reverent of freedom....if only.

[Arpege92]

The US military in my opinion has gone to great lengths to stick to the plan without angering the Iraqi's. That is why I think they did nothing to stop the looting on the very first day of liberation for Baghdad....had they interfered, the Iraqi people would not have appreciated that at all. We are seen as liberators and not police men.

[nickcarraway]

Is this writer saying we shouldn't have freed France in the 40's?

[Bluntpoint]

Nobody at the New York Times loves a Republican winner.

[m1911]

Looked like a straight analysis of post-liberation psychology with historical examples to me. Shame, guilt, and humiliation are factors that must be taken into account.

The author acknowledges that to be given liberty is a debt that can never be repaid, and being unable to repay debts can eat away at the soul. He also gets in a dig at the ungrateful attitudes of those we've liberated in the past.

I think the question of the heroic myth is valid - who will come forward as the de Gaulle of the Iraqis? Maybe the battle for Tikrit will provide them with one.

[m1911]

Post-war ping

[m1911]

Oh well, so much for the battle of Tikrit. :)