Iraq Today Through the Eyes of Rev. Ken Joseph Jr. (Dennis Prager show today).

It is dusk in Baghdad and I am talking to the regular group of men who gather near the house I am staying in to talk about the days events.

"What do you think about the Americans? How long do you think they should stay? Are they doing a good job?"

The answer is very complicated while at the same time very, very simple. It is the "politically correct" thing to do to complain about the Americans, say they are not wanted and tell them to "go home".

The reality, though, is very, very different. As usually happens throughout Iraq people - before it was Sadaam, now it is the Shias and others - people look around before they tell their true feelings. Simply put they are still afraid to speak the truth.

I am not surprised. It is exactly like I thought. When I was in Iraq before the war the reported feelings were that the people of Iraq while they did not like Sadaam would fight for their country and were against the war.

As I said then, talking to the regular people where they could talk the people wanted the war to come so they could be liberated from Sadaam but were not free to talk, the same situation with a different twist exists today.

It is not widely reported, nor fashionable, to say the Americans are loved and wanted in Iraq but in fact as they were wanted before the war they are wanted now.

"We hope they stay forever" is the true feeling of the silent majority in Iraq contrary to what is reported.

The logic is very simple - the Iraqis do not trust their leaders. Faced with a very complicated situation of a 60% Shia majority, a former police state, Iran at their doorstep trying with all its might to destabilize their country and desperately relieved and happy to be finally liberated from nearly 30 years of Sadaam, they want the US to stay.

The greatest fear of the man on the street is that the Americans will tire and leave. "We pray that they stay and stay forever" is the feeling of the vast majority but they look both ways before they say it.

Why? The answer is quite simple. The following is the translation of a letter being given out throughout Iraq in various forms:

We hope that the family will stand with brothers of Islam and follow the basic Islamic rules of wearing the veil and possesing honorable teachings of Islam that the Muslims have continued to follow from old times.

This message from a Shia Islamic organization says it all and explains in a nutshell why finally liberated the Iraqi people still live in fear.

Not in fear from the crime and looting that is daily reported in the press. Of course it troubles them that the electricity is not up and running properly yet, garbage collection is still scattered and the schools are not yet online but these are all items that the Americans are daily working to fix. It will take time, but they will be ultimately solved.

An interesting discussion followed one of the daily meetings with US Authorities we attend to coordinate activities. Following a long litany of things that do not work and a regular complaing one of the honest Iraqis at the table spoke up. "I think many of those did not work properly even before the war."

The much reported anger of the Iraqis at the slowness of brining Iraq up to speed is much exaggerated. Of course people are frustrated - I am too when the electricity suddenly goes off, the water is sporadic or garbage sits in the street.

At the same time we just got through a war! Standing in front of the Palestine Hotel watching a large group of Shia Muslims complaining about a whole litany of items I asked a simple question "Could you hold a demonstration like this before the war". There was a stunned silence and then a sheepish grin. "No."

What people truly fear is the takeover of their finally liberated country by a group of what they term simply "crazy" people. When fellow Muslims call them "crazy" and they send letters like the above a similar one that came to one of our Bishops a few days ago one begins to understand their true fear.

If there is any mistake being made by the Americans on the ground it is a mistake that it is just too good and too "soft" on the "bad guys."

In the desire to not offend the Americans in the view of the silent majority have been too soft on the "crazies". If there was one single event that put fear in the hearts of the regular people it was when one man crossed the border into Iraq. A man that even Sadaam Hussein would not let into Iraq for 23 years - the leader of the Shia Muslims who had been living in Iran as an exile Ayatollah Mohammad Baqer Al Hakim.

Upon returning to Iraq he promptly called for the creation of an Islamic state like Iran.

If there are any mistakes being made by the Americans on a daily basis it is in being too "soft" to allow 24 hours of anti-American broadcasts by both radio and TV.

As one who was born and raised in Japan in which a mirror of what is happening in Iraq took place 58 years ago I for one feel Japan's example can be a "roadmap" for the future of Iraq.

My parents were one of the thousands that responded to General Douglas McArthur's call for 10,000 young people to help rebuild Japan following the war.

They came with many others who gave their lives to see a war mongering, psuedo religious police state transformed into the economic powerhouse and leader for good in the world that Japan for all its many problems is today.

Just like Iraq, immediately following its surrender there were the voices calling for more consideration for Japan's "culture" and leaving the basic institutions in place.

Instead, strong accountability was put in place, war criminals punished and executed, pre-war institutions that had created the war machine were eliminated, a strong constitution that included a water tight prohibition against any religious involvement by the state and a small but critical US presence that 58 years following the war remains.

Why? As any Japanese and he will tell you, quietly because it is still "politically incorrect" that they want the Americans to stay.

As the Iraqis told me before the war "we are not afraid of the Americans bombing. There will be mistakes. People will be killed but we do not believe the Americans will ever purposely bomb us" both in Japan and in Iraq people when they are free to tell their true feelings inherently trust America.

They will all bring up the myriad of other interests they feel the US has in its cards - oil, control of the world and on and on - but at the end of the day they want America to stay involved an fear most of all that the American people will grow tired and leave them to the "crazies".

What can we do to ensure that Iraq will go on to become another "Japan" and be a leader for good in the Middle East?

The answers best come from the common people. I will never forget discussing with many of the Peace Activists I has originally supported before the war if they had talked with the common people to ask what they wanted? "No, we don't have to. We know what they want."

What do the "regular people" in Iraq want? Just like they wanted the Americans to save them from Sadaam and were ready to pay any price personally to do so their advice is simple and we ignore it at a price.

First, don't be soft on the Shias! Don't listen to all the voices saying be "culturally sensitive". People that say if you don't believe like we do we will rape, kill, kidnap or burn down your house do not deserve to be talked with. As the "regular people "say "they are crazy and cannot be talked with."

An important first step? Send Ayatollah Mohammed Baqer Hakim back to Iran where he spent his exile torturing Iraqis in Iranian prisons. "Cut out the cancer that will destroy our country" is the feeling on the street.

Second, immediately stop the daily cacophony of speakers that blare from mosques across the country. This is not an issue of respecting religious institutions. The use of massive speakers to blare out "calls to prayer" is a recent phenonomen.

According to the "regular people" one of the best things the British troops did in 1991 in the areas they controlled was to visit with each Mosque and tell the Inman that there was complete religious freedom and he could do whatever he wanted but the blaring out of speakers all day long and into the night was not religious but political and as many other "Islamic" countries have done banned it.

Even neighboring Jordan has banned all such blaring speakers except for one in the city of Amman.

This one move immediately changed the atmosphere for the "regular people" and sent a strong message that there was a future and the British at that time meant business about a secular Iraq with freedom and opportunity for all.

There will be cries to be "culturally sensitive" on this issue but the constant blaring is a constant political statement that says there is not equality. It is the simplest but most single most important step that can be taken to give Iraqis hope that things will be different in the future.

In addition the Islamic headdress that we saw battled in Afghanistan and is now an issue on the ground in Iraq should be banned. Many other Islamic nations have come to the simple conclusion that given the example of the letter sent out and the reality of the weakess of the position of women there is no situation in which a woman can be thought to be in a position to freely choose to wear the veil, covering of the head of the full body covering.

The only solution is to ban it completely so it does not become and issue and used by the "crazies" to impose their values by intimidating the weakest of the population - the women.

Third, begin immediately 24 hour television in Arabic, Kurdish and Assyrian - the principle languages of Iraq. It is unbelievable that to date it is not up and running while neighboring Iran continues to blare unbelievable messages into Iraq.

The "regular people" are confused and upset not at what they see - in Each of the regular homes I have stayed in the Americans tanks drive by patrolling the streets at least three or four times each night - it what they do not see.

What is most needed on the ground is information. In the absence of it, the "crazies" get the edge. Simple -- television, newspapers and radio with information on the progress or reconstruction, information on daily needs and encouragement for the future.

Fourth, don't be so overly sensitive to Islamic issues. It will be the "death knell" to success in Iraq.

As was done in Japan the "cancer" needs to be rooted out. Virtually all the "crazy" positions that are imposed according to a read of the Koran and the feeling of the "regular people" are not in the Koran and have nothing to do with Islam.

The American position should be we respect the Koran as a religious book. Islam as a respected religion but will never tolerate anything done in the name of either that defies the moral principles of international society.

According to the Koran in Part 3 Surah 2 Al Baqarah 256 Page 68 -"There shall not be compulsion in religion.

The Americans shall strenuously support freedom of religion and the Freedom to openly propagate any religion but will never, never, never tolerate any form of intimidation or even implicit state support for any one religion.

Fifth, create a secular, non-religious constitution for Iraq. I do not mean ask the Iraqis to do it - after 30 years of intimidation, police state and worse they are psychologically incapable at this time of doing it themselves.

Exactly as in postwar Japan we need the best and the brightest minds of Americans and Iraqis together to do this. The best tool at this time is the 1925 Iraqi constitution with the religious articles taken from the Japanese constitution.

This is critical. On this one issue our Iraq will fail or succeed. Don't listen to the voices again about being "culturally sensitive". The US Faces a simple and stark problem - there is no "Islamic" nation anywhere that constitutionally guarantees equal rights. Check it out. One will be shocked as I was to read constitution after constitution and find out that one is not allowed by either constitution or law to leave Islam. This allows a situation to be created where the most important human right - the right to freedom of thought is not allowed in any Islamic country by virtue of the fact that individuals are not allowed to legally leave the "religion" they were born into nor allowed to specify "nothing" when asked about their religious belief.

This is where Japan succeeded - the Americans were vicious in their complete elimination of any religious test or favoritism in the Constitution and subsequent laws.

Sixth, create representative government. Don't do this in long, tedious consultations. This needs to, as in Japan's case, be imposed with consultation.

Special provisions must be made to include special rights for special peoples who during Sadaam's time were purposely spread thinly across the country to make sure they would never be strong enough in any one area to be able to affect representation.

The Assyrians, the indigenous people of Iraq - the "Native Americans," if you will, of Iraq, along with the Kurds and the Turkomans, need to have special autonomy in their homelands so they will feel they have a future and stay to build Iraq and exiles by the millions living abroad will see a future to return.

Along with this representative government giving special rights to indigenous peoples in their homelands there must be a careful and complete settlement of all outstanding claims for land. This was one of the other major areas that caused Postwar Japan to succeed - the Americans were vigorous in breaking up the illegal land situations that had developed over the years and is mirrored in Iraq.

Land must be returned completely to all those who had their land taken By Sadaam and his "friends" so each Iraqi will have their own land and "own" a future. There must never be any perception that Sadaam's "friends" as those who assisted in the nightmare that was Japan before and during World War II continue to benefit.

Next to the elimination of the speakers at the Mosques this will show Iraqis on a practical level that the US is creating an equal playing field for all Iraqis and they have a future.

Finally, get telephones for the US Military and ORHA offices in Baghdad. For those of us who daily interact with them it borders on the absurd.

Imagine a whole "government in waiting" that cannot communicate across the few feet of various agency offices.

This touches a greater issue - let's not think we can set up an Iraq on "the cheap."

I am tired of looking into the eyes of exhausted American soldiers that fought their way across the desert from Kuwait only to have to sit in offices without air conditioning in 130 degree heat, no showers, no regular beds and conditions that are appalling.

We must not forget that it took 7 years of post war occupation in Japan to root out all the "bad guys" and set up a government.

Anyone that in any ways tries to "force" by intimidation as is happening on the ground across Iraq as we speak should be arrested and charged with exactly what it is - intimidation having absolutely nothing to do with religion.

If you have seen those hard working, exhausted and homesick servicemen on a daily basis as I have you would be left with one thought - "let's increase their numbers and supply them all they need to get the job done."

Iraq is a rich country. It has more than enough resources without using any of US Taxpayers money to be put on the road to freedom and democracy.

I don't want to have to look into the eyes of one exhausted, homesick and discouraged American serviceman.

Will it pay off? Has Japan "paid off"? It is a simple but critical question. The stark question is this - do we want another "Japan" or do we want another "Iran."

As I write this a "Red Crescent Curtain" is falling across Iraq from Dohuk in the North to Basra in the south. The tide of the "crazies" as they are known in Iraq that intimidate the population is rising hourly and must be immediately put to a stop.

We got "Iran" by being over considerate of "cultural values" while forgetting the most important fact - what do the "regular people" want.

I fear one problem. Talking to Jay Garner following a recent meeting a few days ago in Baghdad I was shocked to find out that he did not seem to understand some of the basic issues.

What angered me more was the immediate rush of staff around him trying to keep me from him. "No," he said to his staff. I want to hear what he has to stay.

I trust that in the confusion that is Iraq today someone with an agenda Is not trying to move things ahead while keeping key administrators in the dark about the feelings and desires of the "regular people."

Whether we will end up with another "Iran" or a "Japan" hinges no on the United Nations or "dialogue" or "cultural sensitivity" but on the simple question of what the "regular people" want and what they deserve.

It is my prayer that the United States will have the courage to stay the course - it make take seven years of direct occupation and decades of limited basing but it will be well worth it.

When the US decided that it needed to resort to war to rid Iraq of Sadaam Hussein one of the first countries to step up to the plate to help was, yes, Japan!

58 years later our greatest enemy is now one of our greatest friends and the country that was the largest single recipient of American Foreign Aid is now the largest giver of Foreign Aid in the world.

Who is against it? The dictators throughout the world who are in panic watching whether the Americans will go "all the way.

They will fight against it will all their might - not for "Islam" nor for "cultural sensitivity" which they will use but in reality because they derive their power from the abuse of the "regular people."

Now is the time to be strong, forceful and remember the lessons of the past. Japan is our greatest example. As one who was born and raised in Japan I grew up regularly having someone out of nowhere shake my hand and say "thank you for General Douglas McArthur and for what you did to Japan after the war."

I was just a kid and didn't have the vaguest idea of what transpired but it was a regular occurance and still happens today.

It brought back memories as I stood with our neighbors on a dusty Baghdad street at dusk and heard them reply to my question of how long should America stay in Iraq.

The US - not the UN, not the Arab League, not international peacekeepers but as in Japan is the greatest guarantee that Iraq will rise from the ashes of war to be a leader for good in the Middle East and begin the "domino" effect of toppling dictators throughout the world in the second phase of the falling of the "Berlin Wall.

The revolution of 1776 where the Americans declared independence from tyranny and freedom for the "regular people" deserves nothing less.

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Rev. Ken Joseph Jr., is an Assyrian and a minister. As a lifelong pacifist he was against the war but looking into the eyes of his family members in Baghdad, under the regime of Sadaam Hussein had a change of heart. He directs Assyrianchristians.com.

Thank you. My problem is I can find some good stuff, but I don't have any ping lists and don't know how to find them. Just pulling some names off some other Iraq threads.

Iraq and Japan have zero in common. We crushed Japan both physically and spiritually. Japan was a nation with their major cities in cinders, it's populace reduced to absolute ruin and poverty. They also had a sense of guilt. We also left their Emporer as a titular head of government. This is not the case in Iraq. Japan also had had extensive experience in Western democratic government and had an elite well versed in Western ways. Iraq does not.

I don't see us doing anything in Iraq but setting up a dictator who will rule at our whim and suppress the "Iraqi" people who will degenerate into tribal, religious, or ideological factions as is already evident.

Thanks. This gentlemen has a great story!

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In Iraq? Who are we kidding? A secular government? Not in a million years. We can run a secular government in Iraq if we are willing to do what Sadaam did in the way of terror! The only thing that kept Iraq from being a mimic of Iran was Sadaam.

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