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Old 10-31-06, 09:36 AM
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"uber duper anti-squid"
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Burlington, VT
Age: 38
Posts: 8,526

50 years in Iraq


Quote:
Originally posted by bigred875
I agree with everything you said

however

it is blantantly obvious the Iraq's don't know..and do not care what is good for them...they have dis banned teh army and the cops are walking around like the mob... imo i could really care less about what is best for the iraqi people..... the guys running the show need to stop playing politics and do the right thing...whatever that is... what is happening not is not working out

Iraq is steeped in tradition and religion. They have a certain way of doing things.
Let me give an example.
We had some Bedouins outside our camp, we wanted to ask them a bunch of stuff so we made contact with them, It took weeks just to get that far, then when we met with them (I was part of the security detail not the negotiations) and started talking it was all about family and wives and the weather and stuff... we didn't talk about the issues until our 3rd meeting...and nothing was resolved for 6 months!
Get it? They just do things differently. "It is as Allah wills it" They think that if they wait long enough things change because Allah wills it.
Some of them are becoming more "westernized" and they are politically clashing with the religous leaders (not good). This brings out sides and there are a whole lot more "religous" people there.
Doing the "right" thing is different to many. Some want westernization, some don't. ALL of them want a piece and want to have POWER. They are not willing to let go of what they have even if it means a better society. "It won't be better if I am not in charge." Is the mentality I saw.

This all will take time. More time then our instant gratification society is willing to accept.

My solution... There is no simple one. The people on the ground know what they are doing, give them the time and the resources and have the news stop reporting all the negative and start showing the positive.

Our Stars and Stripes
http://www.estripes.com/


For another perspective.

Kuwaiti Times
http://www.kuwaittimes.net/

Arab Times
http://www.arabtimesonline.com/arabtimes/

Iraq Times
http://www.azzaman.com/english/

And even
Korean Herald
http://www.azzaman.com/english/



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