Whither Hope? Withered, Irremediably.
The intent of the U.S. troops' invasion of Iraq: to unseat a vile dictator who held his country in thrall to his version of Baathist Islam (in contrast, one supposes, to the rule of Wahaabist Islam in Saudi Arabia) and bring about Democracy in the Arab World. Kicking and screaming, obviously, if need be. And as events have proven, need be kicking and screaming. But if kicking and screaming, a shy reluctance to embrace a civil political future was all that faced the invading army of do-gooders, there'd be no problem, would there? Plant the innocently valuable seed of Democracy, and by virtue of its goodness it will grow, it will be embraced by the population, the monster would be defanged. As if.Goodness, what am I saying? There is, even as I write, a fledgling democracy in Iraq, a coalition of willing/unwilling politicians representing the fragmented population, determined to make democracy work, to make of their country a civilized and civil country of which all could be proud, would be secure, and would prosper.
Ah, human nature intervenes. Yet again. A sad old story. Most particularly in a country and a region where tribal factionalism and religious sectarianism have long had the sorry habit of resulting in suspicion, enmity and murder most foul. Perhaps, in retrospect, Iraq under the iron rule of its former dictator wasn't so bad after all?
Well, there was discrimination; his minority Sunni Baathists ruled the country, second-citizening the wider Shiite majority, the Kurds and any other unfortunate minorities residing there. There was method to his madness, as crime was harshly punished, as well as dissent, and as a result there was little of either. And if revolutionary fervour ever reared its sorry head, it was lopped off mercilessly. So yes, he was a mass murderer too. Not a very keen environmentalist, either.
On the other hand, what have the liberators of Iraq wrought, what have they brought to this beleaguered people? Dare we intone it, carefully, quietly? Civil War. There, it's said. Bands of roaming, righteously murderous Muslims, Sunni and Shia, casual militia who feel it perfectly all right to bomb mosques belonging to "the other". Who feel completely justified in avenging themselves one upon the other, extinguishing lives as they go, in gay abandon.
Both Sunni and Shia alike, neighbourhoods, families, live in constant fear of property destruction, and death. And, not too strangely, given the fledgling new democracy's official army itself handily decimated regularly by opposing outside forces for destabilization purposes, are incapable of bringing order and security. Those who can, flee to safety within the borders of neighbouring countries. And here too, Iran's clerics are busy planning, laying the seeds for a final ingathering.
One massacre after another, leaving a trail of blood that nothing can expunge, there is no longer hope within the population for anything resembling normal life; certainly not in the forseeable future. Instead, there will be an accelerated killing machine, a total, outright civil war.
So much for democracy in the Middle East, within the country set aside by a determined army of liberation to be the first among its Arab neighbours to demonstrate all the civil virtues that accrue with democracy.
posted by Pieface @ Sunday, July 16, 2006
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