Apologies from America

Submitted by Thomas Paulson (United States), Mar 21, 2003 at 19:04

I want to express my deepest apology that the US has managed to attack an oppressive regime and do so without consideration of the priority list you mentioned:

"Iraq only ranks 13th in the Observer Human Rights Index (an Index of human rights abusers compiled from the following sources: Amnesty International Yearly Report; Amnesty International Country Reports; US State Department Country Reports on Human Rights; United Nations Human Development Report (Human Development Index.)) this is below countries such as Yugoslavia (top of the list); China; North Korea..."

I guess we should have gone in order down the list, right?

At the risk of being presumptuous, I would like to say that of all the people I know, and I am married to a Muslim by the way, I have not met ONE American that harbors hatred towards the Palestines or Arab world because of their religion. We are not attacking IRAQ as some sort of Crusade! It's because Saddam hates America and for which it stands. America came to the rescue when IRAQ attacked Kuwait. What other Arab nation that is now protesting in the streets so vehemently came to their fellow Arabs aid? Moreover, imagine that many of the Al Qaeda members are Kuwaitis. If the other nations cared so dearly about their neighbor, why did they let them suffer the unthinkable atrocities brought upon them by Saddam? Turkey, Yemen, Iran, Syria and Lebanon do not care about the Iraqis. If they truly did, they would recognize the true relief in the Iraqis' hearts and minds when they see the coalition forces kick the *?!% out of Hussein.

The truth is as I see it, Arabs nations tend to hate each other and are in fierce competition with each other. The US is the only force that has the courage and means to keep checks and balances on the rogue nations that don't have a domestic governmental system that does. We are irritating to the suppressors.

I can see that sometimes the US appears as though it is bullying its way around less fortunate nations, but I sincerely believe that the US is a principled-centered nation that genuinely wants other nations to have the freedom and rights the itself possesses. Some see that as arrogant. The US does not have pure intentions for the Middle East I am sure. By pure I mean that we have a selfish motive: WE WANT TO LIVE IN PEACE WITHOUT THE PERPETUAL CONFLICTS FROM THE MIDDLE EAST CONTAMINATING OUR WAY OF LIFE. The US has had to fight like no other nation before for its freedoms, and we want others to have it...is that arrogant? And stop saying it's about oil. We will spend probably 400 billion for this war and there is no way we will steal oil from Iraq to pay for it.

Bottom line:

No matter what the US does or doesn't do, that area of the world will be fighting each other for eternity. Imagine growing up in an oppressed nation that teaches you to suppress your own natural drives and desires. The US would look like a snobby rich kid saying "na-na-nana-na..U can't have what I've got, hehehe", to a poor orphan with scabies.

Some maybe we should butt out? Maybe no matter how good our intentions are they will never appreciate them? Maybe we should completely move out of that area of the world and let them prosper as they will. No educating them in our schools. No coming to their aid, PERIOD! No sharing of technology, etc. OK? We get it. How foolish of us to try to help nations less fortunate progress. You have your pride I guess. Like the blind man that slaps your hand for trying to lead him, home.

When this war is over, I think President Bush and his administration will demand that Israel and Palestine work out and agreement. I pray that he does I really do. It seems so simple of a solution, but no matter what is brought to the table, one side rejects it. You said you want the Jews off your land. Maybe that attitude is the source of the conflict and why it has not been resolved. You see, b/c Israelis think it's their land too. Do you think eventually they will say, "gee, ok, you can have it"? That is as ridiculous as expecting the Palestines to say it. It is not your land and it is not the Jews land...it is God's land...share it!

P.S. I think the US would have trouble helping Palestine right now because if we do it would validate the suicide bombers approach. After we oust the IRAQI regime, we will probably be able to focus our attention on the Palestinian issue and it will look like...ok, next on the list is.... NOT OK, we are sorry Osama and the rest of you crazies.... We will get Israel to behave.

God Bless!

---

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".