Foreign Policy

Bush: Iraqi Democracy Making Progress; Estimates 30,000 Iraqis Killed

December 12, 2005 ⋅  E-Mail Article ⋅  Print Article ⋅ Post a comment

Many feel that America is fighting the war in a very ethnocentric manner; they feel that the Bush administration is judging success as it is defined in Western culture and not how it is defined in the Middle East. We must remember that how we are perceived is part of the winning strategy.

Case in point; General Washington is described by the British as cowardly, and unprofessional, because of the way he fought the revolutionary war. Because Washington went around sneaking and ambushing the British, they considered Washington a man of no honor. Contrarily, the British fought in the open, standing up, and wearing their easily recognizable white and orange uniforms. American historians feel the British were not very smart to fight in this manner; the British feel America had no honor in this war. Same war, same actions, tow very different points of view.

Is the same thing going on in Iraq? Are we being perceived differently by the enemy than we actually think he perceives us? And is this why the war is lasting so long, with enemies who appear to hold tight to their ideals regardless of what losses they are incurring? Do we really understand the enemy or are we trying to out muscle an ideal that may never completely be out muscled?

Maybe it is time we change our idea of cultural relativism in regards to this war and try something new. Our brave men and woman in the armed services are doing as much as possible to bring success to the mission; maybe we need to give them a new and improved game plan to execute.

Although the majority of Americans polled agree that removing Saddam Hussein was a good thing, they still disagree with the continued operation in Iraq.

Many Americans want a timetable for the end of the Iraq War. Many feel that we have been in Iraq long enough, they want their president to turn his attention to domestic issues such as local state and government budget shortfalls, increasing loss of manufacturing jobs, and no child left behind shortcomings. With everyone screaming in Bushs’ ear, why has he not addressed the other issue affecting Americans?

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