Posted by 10derHeart on March 6, 2009, at 1:53:40
In reply to Re: Bush, a friend of Africa » Sigismund, posted by Garnet71 on March 6, 2009, at 0:57:13
Lots to think about.
What do people think of the idea of the Iraqis, now or at some point, paying back the U.S. for some of the tremendous financial cost of the war - and also the ongoing costs of maintaining forces there for support, training, etc.? Is that feasible? Politically? Economically? Is it even right or fair? What do the *people* of Iraq think? I'll venture that is different from what the official government position might be...? Is is overwhelmingly that the U.S. invaded and harmed them and their land more than helped - period, despite the horrors of Sadaam? Or, do some see it more like Garnet wrote? I'd guess many factors could influence that - what area you lived in , what party you were loyal to, what your personal reality of life was under Sadaam. Dictators tend to get "the trains to run on time," so to speak, and I can see how the order and structure is missed. It's a natural human reaction.
I can't imagine how difficult it has all been, and how much suffering families endure in *any* war-ravaged country. You certainly never completely get over it. Especially the kids, to cope with war and its long aftermath. I wonder what they will learn in school about this time period?
Obviously, I'm not up on this at all. I've heard media reports saying there is *plenty* of oil money right now, then others saying, as mentioned, that the Iraqis really aren't controlling much of their own resources at the moment. Some say we should pay every cent to rebuild "everything we destroyed."
I think you could spend a lifetime studying and only begin to grasp the complexities of a country with a history like that of Iraq. And it's only one of many in such an amazingly beautiful yet tragic region. I've always wanted to visit Israel and other parts of the Middle East. I used to supervise an Iranian guy who knew so much about the period of the Shah (from things his parents taught him - they fled the country during mid-70's) the hostage taking, etc. Sadly, he felt nothing but pure hate for Iraqis, that was clear. Perhaps there were good reasons, likely stemming from stuff that happened to extended family back home during the horrible Iran-Iraq war in the 80's (think he would have been about 6-15 years old and living in the U.S. by then) Multi-generational hatred of entire countries and peoples always feels so sad and hopeless to me. It is a great experience to meet someone from the region, though. Makes it real, which can't hurt, to expand your mind by listening.
Sorry - so many questions and no information to share. I'm so curious, but it's tough to find time and trustworthy sources to educate yourself. There is *so* much available on the Web to read, yet it's hard to be discerning, and I often have to reject some of the severely slanted cr----errrr-----materials, waaaaay to the right and waaaaay to the left. It's not helpful - the amount of hyperbole I've found. It's just frustrating.
poster:10derHeart
thread:883454
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/poli/20090221/msgs/884019.html