12/31/2004
why not us?
Picked up this little gem from Cass over at Villainous Company.
Apparently, Fareed Zakaria is actually putting in print some POSITIVEs about the War in Iraq and the upcoming elections.
Most memorable:
We have gotten used to bad news from Iraq—and there will be more. But there is good news as well. Elections are likely to go ahead as scheduled. In November, as the attack on Fallujah began, I argued that it would be a turning point, one way or another. It now appears that Fallujah altered the dynamic for the better. It’s not simply that it was a military victory—everyone expected that. Far more important, the victory did not seem to generate a high political cost (something I was worried about). The uproar that was expected across Iraq in response to the operation simply did not happen. The Shia and Kurds did not complain, and even the “Sunni street” was much quieter than anticipated.
Yes, we knocked the crapped out of those lily livered cusses. And so..
The United States has paid a terrible price for this war—in Iraq and in the world at large—unconscionably high, given how many of these costs were avoidable. And I could be wrong about Iraq, in the sense that things could get much worse. Civil war, rampant anti-Americanism and terrorism are all part of the possible future. But what I am not wrong about is that a more decent, pluralistic Iraq would make a huge difference in the Arab world. Already the preparations for Iraq’s elections are stirring debate and discussion among its neighbors. Remember, these are the first genuine, national elections in the entire region. As 300 million Middle Easterners watch Iraqis going to the polls, they will surely ask a simple question: “Why not us?”
And that, dear friends, is exactly what we’ve been working toward. It is quite surprising to me that the leftist media, particularly NEWSWEEK, would dare to print such a thing.
Cross posted to It Is What It Is
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March 27th, 2006 at 5:38 pm
Scientists write nowadays of “reality tunnels”, constructs of the mind that filter our perceptions into palatable forms. A good example is that of the indigenous folks standing on the beach when Columbus’ Occidental Enlightenment Armada came into view–they couldn’t “see” the ships because they were so far outside any frame of reference that made any sense to them. While I, too, have to congratulate you on the use of the word elucidate–shucks! wherever would I see such a purty ‘lil thang?–I also feel obliged to point out the fact that your particular reality tunnel is decidedly myopic. Just a few items for you to consider: corporations control the media (leftwing and corporate interests are inimical). The ends only justify the means if you have no ethical compass (every single act performed in the wake of and as a result of 9/11 by your Dear Leader has been an act of fear-mongering hypocrisy).
We claim to be spreading democracy, while in fact all we’re spreading is the world’s legs for the corporate interest. Don’t believe me? Shocked at my uncouth assertion? What happened to the democratically elected government of Iran in 1953? How about that of Guatemala in 1954? Chile in 1974? All, each and every one, deposed by us and replaced with a repressive, rightwing dictator to “protect American interests” (corporations–these people were going to use their national resources for the benefit of their populations!!) Do you think the rest of the world believes the stale propaganda you evidently still swill? Cover your eyes and say it ain’t so, and maybe it won’t be…good luck!
Haeuptling Aberja