Business As Usual

By Irene Rheinwald

02/17/07 "ICH' - -- The more things change, the more they stay the same. What seemed an earthquake on November 7, 2006, has turned into a mere ripple in a volatile pond. Despite proclamations to the contrary, Democratic control of Congress cannot be termed a reversal of the ill advised, disastrous, policies of the Bush administration in Iraq.

Will the Democrats perpetuate the Iraq war? Or will they seek a viable solution that incorporates a full and immediate withdrawal from the escalating conflict? The mere presence of foreigners – namely, American combatants – irritates the social fabric of Iraq. Muslim memories are long. The Crusades are a still fresh source of inspired struggle. Muslim traditions, accomplishments and history are distinguished and extraordinary. The Western perception, based on colonial self-indulgence and ignorance, rests upon an assumption of cultural inferiority. George W. Bush always has a “raison de jour” for invading Iraq: first, to ostensibly to avoid the “mushroom cloud”, then the war against terror, then to liberate the Iraq people and bring democracy to the benighted. It is now some nebulous “success”. As we watch the situation deteriorate, and fatalities mount in almost incomprehensible numbers on all sides, a genuine turn of policy is vital. We wonder where it all went so terribly wrong. Are we the first to make such errors, or can history teach us about the madness of making war? Most important, are we willing to learn?

Governments, states, empires, kingdoms, from ancient times to modern, frequently embrace policies at odds with international stability and focus instead on short-term economic gains. From ancient Rome to Egypt, to the Holy Roman Empire, Napoleon, Victorian colonialism, and the Soviet Union, political and religious institutions have sought to absorb autonomous neighbours. Empire building, the consequence of self-delusion, arrogance, and xenophobia, is actually economic exploitation. The spoils of war are paramount: not democracy, not enlightenment, nor freedom, liberty, and certainly not self-determination. To assert such lofty motives is disingenuous dissembling. Why is the United States only interested in “liberating” countries swimming in natural resources such as oil? Why did the United States not champion former Soviet Republics in 1989? What of Chechnya’s struggles? Why has the United States ignored human catastrophes such as Darfur, Rwanda, or ethnic cleansing in Palestine? Aids in Africa? And what of medicare, social security, education in the United States? How far would the almost four hundred billion spent on the invasion of Iraq go towards bettering American society?

So what do with Iraq? Does the “you break, you buy” admonition still apply? George W. Bush would have us believe that Iraq was broken under Saddam Hussein, and that the people desperately needed and wanted American glue. Not so: from the 1980s until the 2003 illegal invasion, Iraq was perceived as a moderate Middle Eastern entity; a progressive, secular, stabilizing force amongst “evil” Islamic fundamentalists. Western powers overlooked, even tolerated, Saddam Hussein’s excesses. Indeed, Iraq had an extraordinary number of intellectuals of both genders – most now dead or in exile. At this point, the situation is a complex warren of militias, factions, sects, tribes, political alliances, mercenaries, imported terrorists and religious ideologues, clashing with American occupying forces and each other, based factional collusion with the United States. A sub-current is the return of ex-patriot Iraqis into positions of power under, again under the auspices of the United States. Is America now willing to prop up al-Malaki’s friendly government with massive force? Are we so deluded to think al-Maliki’s regime is legitimate, representative, and independent? Democracy has no history in the Middle East, outside of the despised Israel. Moreover, democratic movements are borne of internal stirrings in a nation with a strong middle class. Military invasion and perpetual terror against civilians alienates “hearts and minds”. Democracy cannot, must not, be imposed from without, under any circumstances. To do so simply invites bitterness and violence against the oppressors. The Soviet Union brutally invaded the democratic Baltic nations to “liberate” them – same coin, different side.

One might say Iraq is in a state of civil war, but doing so overlooks a fundamental point and is ultimately misleading. Conflict amongst Islamic sects date back to the seventh century CE, and relate to Mohammed’s successors. Occupation by Western powers such as the United States is a recent phenomenon, deeply resented by all. All Muslims are brothers when faced with a common enemy. Hence, George W. Bush and his administration, by speaking of “evil-doers” and protecting American interests, escalate Middle Eastern resentment. The entire area is destabilized. Continuing this occupation exacerbates the conflict, and does not contain violence, as the current administration charges. Even the oft-bandied proposal that Iraq be divided into three countries (Sunni, Shi’ite, Kurd) is disingenuous, favouring Western domination: it is easier to control the resources of three smaller countries than a large and diverse one. Worse yet, it does not remove the United States as “puppet master”. To speak of civil war deflects from the occupation crisis and places blame on the supposedly inferior people and structure of Iraqi society; the West therefore justifies continued military presence under the guise of future stabilization. Quite the rationalization. Rather than “sectarian violence” or “civil war”, this is repression; artificial divisions imposed by the United States on a foreign culture and society. That is the crux of the conflict.

The only true victory would be the immediate and complete withdrawal of all occupying forces from Iraq. On February 13, 2007, Vermont’s House and Senate passed a non-binding resolution calling for just that – a remarkable first. Other states must follow suit, even if this deaf and blind administration does not respond. Such a move supports the troops: almost 25 per cent of soldiers currently serving in Iraq want immediate withdrawal, while 72 per cent advocate withdrawal before the end of 2007 (http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article12103.htm). Withdrawal does not undermine morale. An ill defined, strategically impoverished war does. As well, the government must reward service and sacrifice with complete support upon return. This “surge” of soldiers would only result in countless unnecessary casualties and fatalities.

Even after withdrawal, healing will be a long-term process. Time, good faith negotiations, open dialogue, respect for differences, and reparation might eventually alleviate distrust. Most important, however, is a total reappraisal of foreign and domestic policy. The United States must quit this imperialist path and never again interfere, either covertly or openly, in the internal workings of independent nations. In addition, oil companies, corporations that motivate both political parties, must scale back profits and invest in alternative energy sources. Auto manufacturers have remarkably efficient vehicles that, although prototypes, will unfortunately never see mass production. The market could be lucrative, if sufficiently developed.

Above all, the West must learn to live in harmony with all people, and realize our society is simply one of many: neither superior nor inferior. Arrogance – the most fatal of flaws – must never again govern foreign policy decisions.

Irene Rheinwald is a writer, artist, historian and former social worker residing in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. She is a member of PAJU (Palestinian and Jewish Unity), has travelled extensively in the Middle East, and studied foreign relations.