A Culture Gap Complicates U.S. Task in Iraq

Newsday ^ | 7/9/03 | James Pinkerton

[saquin]

A Culture Gap Complicates U.S. Task in Iraq

James P. Pinkerton

July 9, 2003

Remember Baghdad Bob? Also known as Comical Ali? That would be Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf, the Iraqi information minister under Saddam Hussein, who, in the eyes of Westerners, made a fool of himself by claiming that American forces were defeated when, in fact, they were entering Baghdad.

Yet, at the same time, he became a hero to many Arabs, who admired his colorful language, especially his over-the-top insults against the Americans. And that gap in perceptions, Western vs. Arab, is just one specific measure of the gap between the West and the Arab world in general.

To put it bluntly, Arab culture has had a hard time grappling with the realities of the modern world. That's an overall problem for Arabs as they confront the West and all its technology. But it's also a particular puzzle for America, since we, the occupiers of Iraq, must now make the Iraqis see things at least halfway our way.

[risk]

Cultural relativism barf alert.

[Support Free Republic]

There's A Better Way To Beat The Media Clymers (And You Don't Have To Skate)!
	Donate Here By Secure Server Or mail checks to FreeRepublic , LLC PO BOX 9771 FRESNO, CA 93794 or you can use PayPal at Jimrob@psnw.com
STOP BY AND BUMP THE FUNDRAISER THREAD- It is in the breaking news sidebar!

[okie01]

I wonder how Pinkerton would have described the "culture gap" that separated America and Japan in 1945?

[Cacique]

To put it bluntly, Arab culture has had a hard time grappling with the realities of the modern world.

What can one expect from a people still living in the 7th century.