One more difference between Iraq and Germany/Japan

Submitted by Linas Kondratas (Lithuania), Nov 19, 2003 at 07:58

In my opinion, differences presented in the article of Mr. Pipes are indeed important, yet there was another factor which had crucial contribution to the near absense of the resistance in Germany and Japan - namely that following the end of the hostilities both Germans and Japanese, at least the majority of them, regarded Soviet Russia and not America and Britain as their main enemy. It was clear for everyone that if anglosaxons had withdrawn, falling of Japan and (West) Germany into the Soviet sphere of influence would have been a matter of months. Secondly, threat from a totalitarian power stimulated Japanese and Germans to create such political system which would be immune to totalitarian influences. On the other hand both countries played crucial roles in the American military strategical designs during the Cold War. So the will of Americans to persist in effectuating changes was much stronger than it is now in Iraq.

Whereas in Iraq, Iraqis do not see any other potential threat to their culture and nationhood as Israel whom they consider a USA ally, and certainly USA and Great Britain themselves. If not the factor of Russia in the case of Germany and Japan, in my opinion resistence would have been much tougher(although not necessarily in the form of a guerilla war) and the pace of democratisation much slower.

---

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".