Not a playground

[Lithos]

Though the Arab resistance must continue to challenge occupation, it would do well to reassess its tactics, writes Amr Elchoubaki*

A very thought provoking article.

http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2003/652/op43.htm

[bemildred]

1. Correct but not likely.

There are more players than the Iraqi people, and for some
of them violence works great. Then there are the different
ethnicities with competing interests, and the clueless
occupation forces.

[Lithos]

2. Yes and no

I agree you are correct for both the Non-Arab northern third of Iraq (Kurds and Turks), but not so for the southern two-thirds where the issue is definitely one of legitimacy, or lack there of by the US and it's Iraqi allies/puppets. Just like Iraq post Gulf War I, I think the northern third will remain dominated by warlords.

As for the southern two thirds I do think the issue is one where the US is trying to force a pro-US ideology on the people of Iraq. It is definitely a battle of cultures which I think this article accurately describes. I also think that the article is correct in that a change of tactics to something more peaceful would easily explode the political myth that the US is there for the betterment of the Iraqi people.

Personally I support it as it would take the war directly to the Bush regime and save the lives of the US soldiers.

L-

[bemildred]

3. I don't disagree with his analysis,

or yours.

I just am skeptical that there won't be a good deal of violent
resistance, for various reasons, but mainly because there are a
number of parties who would think it served their interests; not
for the most part Iraqis, either.

It's hard to say at this point whether an effective non-violent
resistance will develop, too, although I think its possible, there
have been some signs of it.

[QuietStorm]

4. it is a positive outlook but

it feels like he is giving this current US regime and US admin way too much credit for flexibility that I am not sure exists. There is too much layover in this current US admin of imperialistic superiority over those in the region. We are moving along very anti-arab lines.

At least that is how the propaganda in the US comes across to me. We have hardly allowed their perspective to filter through the war rhetoric.

Perhaps I am too cynical, but I feel the author is being way to idealistic. I feel if this were true there wouldn't be this current call for all these troops. McCain calls for half a million.

The whole chess board feels like it is going to have to come into play...

I can go on and list a ton of things that works against this idealism, but what could be more of the bad news is LBN, I don't feel the need to interpret it.

[Violet_Crumble]

5. I agree with you...

I'm not too sure that flexibility exists either....

Another thing I'm not sure about is that the US is going to be in a position to determine who the legitimate players are in post-bombed Iraq without the whole thing sliding even further and becoming another Vietnam. I'm curious to know why the US doesn't consider Arab nationalists or liberals to be good enough...

Violet...

[Lithos]

6. Good enough

I'm curious to know why the US doesn't consider Arab nationalists or liberals to be good enough...

That is only important if you believe in the idea that the US is in Iraq to help the Iraqi's. Personally I think this lack of ideological involvement by the US in favor of corporate cronism shows the real reason we are in Iraq.

L-

[QuietStorm]

7. Yes I agree and that is precisely why I feel

the author of this article has given the US administration too much credit for flexibility here. They came in on a kind of propagandized democratic ideology. I never believed for one moment they went into "help" the Iraqi people. It was corporate cronism all the way. If one moves along those lines, the author of this article appears to live in his own idealistic fantasy world of a hope which if I were he, I would not place it in the motives of this US placed regime in Iraq or this current administration. What is good for the people of Iraq per se seems to be of the least concern of this US administration.

[LeftistGorilla]

8. Next up...

Islamic revoluition?

[QuietStorm]

9. Nah

ya think?