America You’re Making a Mistake You Might Regret

Posted on May 20, 2006
Filed Under America, Democracy, Mideast |

As the war in Iraq and on terror wages, more questions arise in the Muslim world regarding the objectivity behind it (besides the “WMD’s” off course). One maybe inclined to attach it to freedom from oppression and its demise only to be replaced with democracy… democracy, a word much misunderstood in the Arab Muslim world rightly or due to misperceptions. Nevertheless, America relentlessly pursues this war in hopes of “liberating” the Middle East, as it’s mistakenly blinded by the idea that this is in its self-interests.

America shouldn’t want democracy in the Middle East and America shouldn’t enforce it. It would be foolish to push for it because the time is simply not right. The majority of Muslims don’t want democracy in its American style. Thankfully Americans understand that or don’t they? Egyptian Observer shares similar views in his blog. A system of governance is meant to change people. However no system will work efficiently without the participation of the major population.

Arab Muslims currently are still not in a neutral state of mind to welcome democracy to be self-enjoyed. If democracy in any way will be accepted at this time, then it would only be if it will inflict harm to the enemies and in this case they’re America and Israel. Democracy in Palestine has resulted in Hamas. Can’t America and Americans just see it? Why do they so vigorously still pursue this war? If true and fair elections were held all over the Arab Muslim world, the result will be a region united by one high priority… the destruction of Israel and America or at least an end to foreign Western meddling in Middle Eastern affairs.

Regardless of those Muslim liberals who support democracy, the majority want no democracy, no secularism and most certainly no Western ideology being forced onto them. If they want something then it’s two and two things only… the Khilafa system which is an Islamic system with similarities to democracy to return and for a great Muslim Ummah to rise once again. However Arab Muslims are without a doubt divided from a bird’s eye view. This divide amongst us can be attributed to simply one thing… education or the lack of it.

America can continue its war in the same way but the final outcome will be the exact opposite of what it has planned for. A change is therefore necessary for such an outcome to be avoided. If Americans are to win, the perception towards democracy in the Muslim world must be fixed. That is something Americans are not in control of but can help in. The wise saying “the pen is mightier than the sword”, still stands in this case.

Bombs and force will never bring the long term results America so badly wants. Education in the Arab Muslim world is the key which must be focused on and we Muslims must try our best to continue our efforts in pursuing that goal as this is in our interests and those of the West. This war to “liberate” will only truly liberate if it is accompanied by education. So far all America has been doing is focusing on the former which is “liberate”. I don’t blame the Americans for this, but I so desperately hope they start to realize the word “democracy” means something very different to the average Arab Muslim citizen who is too busy struggling daily to make ends meet. Philosophizing about this word is out of question. Therefore I stress again the need for education.

I also stress the continuation of peace efforts in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict so that anti-Israeli sentiments in the region can at least start decreasing. If Americans continue this war with bombs, they might succeed temporarily but eventually the democracy they helped bring will backfire and result in Hamas-like governments ruling all over the Arab Muslim world.

America, you’re making a mistake… a mistake you might regret. Extremists will rule the region and unite against you. You will pay a high price for it and so will we the moderate Muslims. This is not in your interest and neither is it in ours because it will lead towards more violence in the region. Do you want that to happen?

PS: Fix Iraq as soon as possible!

Comments

10 Responses to “America You’re Making a Mistake You Might Regret”

  1. Anonymous on May 20th, 2006 3:04 am

    At the moment though, a lot of US soldiers are just trying to keep the various Iraqi civil groups from tearing each other apart. Before and after Sadaam, there were ethnic and religious tensions.

    Regardless of the interests of US politicians, if coalition forces pull out, Iraq will fall into entropy and run into civil war. The reason why Sadaam was in power simply was that his side won the previous civil war and that he maintained his power.

    BTW, info can get muddied up even for me, but the USA came to Iraq for 3 solid reasons (from my perspective):
    1. GWOT: We wanted to shut down Sadaam’s support for terrorist cells in Iraq
    2. Secure Iraq’s supply of oil. While the war is too expensive to say that we were paid in oil, we have prevented Sadaam from setting oil fires. Money may come and go, but fossil fuels are gone forever when wastefully burnt. Plus smoke pollution stays on Earth and can pollute over borders for the years to come. Too bad terrorists are now targeting pipelines.
    3. WMD threat: we assumed that we would find nuclear munitions deducing from Sadaams use of chemical warfare on the Kurds, American military, and the Iranian military. I personally don’t know much about this motive.

    American military experts always knew that the Iraq war would be expensive. But Sadaam really was a threat (a thorn in the side at least) to US interests (excluding the concept of democracy in this case). So you have the choice of having a dangerous leader free, or you fight a very very difficult war. Tough choice.

    Actually, I agree with you that Bush’s focus on spreading Democracy is unwise due to lack of indigenous support. Perhaps we should take a lesson from the Chinese. The CCP government in China respects the right of governance of the countries it deals with. As long as you cooperate with the Chinese, Hu Jintao can be relied on to be extremely polite. This might seem to be a rather ignorant policy, but the US has maintained a similar policy with Saudi Arabia.

    BTW, I really enjoy reading your blog, you have some really important things to say. I’m just piping in to say that there are other perspectives on this war.

  2. halalhippie on May 20th, 2006 11:45 am

    great rant! you touch some important issues.

    Isn’t it strange if a superpower comes along and starts a conversation saying” Lisn’ folks, yer 100% wrong about ev’rything, now lemme show ya…..”
    Ppl have a tendency not to listen? I mean here the West comes shoving democracy down your primitive throats, and you don’t even appreciate ? :-)
    I sure don’t appreciate Hizb-ut Tahrir talking about al-Khalifa in Europe.

    Sorry to joke about it, I’m sure u understand.

  3. frenchfregoli@yahoo.com on May 21st, 2006 11:49 am

    well that’s the whole point.
    No one is shoving US or western style democracy upon muslims.What are the similarities between afghan or iraki new constitutions with a western country?
    Democracy is about responsibility of the rulers towards the citizens.And that from time to time the rulers accept poll defeat and instead of killing their opponents, agree to retreat from goverment and try to win back their position trough the next poll.
    I think it’s very racist to say that muslims DON’T want anything like that!
    As for the khalifa thingy, it’s another problem: may be OTHERS don’t want a khalifah shoved into their throat!And right now the political statement of various “islamic” parties is khalifa or get beheaded!
    So i think the big mistake, the very big mistake is being made by muslims in general, is this nonesense about the khalifa and the outright rejection of any democratic notions as “western” then “haram”.
    Already history is running forward and leaving the arab muslim behind(and for black africa it’s even worse..).
    The more they insist upon this utopian khalifa and “arab” solidarity, the further they will be left.

    And one final note: beware of the time when the west rethoric will match the islamist’s every day call of death and destruction.If you think that the “west” is already “destroying” islam and/or arabs, what would you think will happen in case of a total , frontal war?Do you really want to hear cries of death to muslims in the western cities?
    I am not afraid of what 2 or 3 more terrorist attacks can do to some western cities.I am afraid of the day when one of those attacks will finally break the western “street” restraint, and what “we” would do then….

  4. jodetoad on May 24th, 2006 12:46 am

    It’s a chicken or the egg situation.

    No doubt education and exposure would influence the situation, but where will the education and exposure come from?

    Our “friends” the Saudis are still teaching their students that we westerners and non-Muslims are the sons of pigs and dogs in their textbooks. I don’t know how much education most people in the region have access to, but none of it is directed at a reasonable understanding of democracy, to my knowledge. We have no input into educational systems in other countries.

    Over 200 years ago, our ancestors were mostly farmers, tradesmen, woodsmen, and few had any education. But it worked somehow. Maybe it was because of cultural characteristics, I don’t know. I wonder sometimes if the tribalism thing causes loyalties that conflict - not that I really understand it, but it seems like a gazillion political parties that don’t always compromise very well.

    Our self-interest is not our only consideration. We might not prefer more Hamas-like governments, but a government where citizens have a voice and are treated with respect is the goal. If people elect governments we don’t like, we’ll respond one way or another, but still be happy that citizens can have some self-determination. Yes, we care who is elected, but we care more that people have the opportunity to elect somebody.

    Does it seem crazy that we don’t like Hamas, but are glad the Palestinians had a say in their government?

  5. Anonymous on May 24th, 2006 1:52 am

    Right on,
    Here is a point in the same line of thought:

    Suffering for education, Why? because the last 85 years of European/Western messing in the middle East destroyed the great 1000 year old educational infustructure and continually haults any progress towards it trying to micro manage things into their disired, but unrealistic and unpopular outcome.

    More Wars = more messed up eduacational infustructure.

    Next: Western education smears feces all over everything middle East/Muslim and makes the world seam like it always belonged rightfully to Europe. Summery their histories are all egocentric, and innacurately so to the extent that Islamic achievments of peace and Unity in past centuries have never been included in the brainstorm models for developing successful democracy in the world.

    My Point:
    The middle East, and Central Asia are going to have to get the education thing going on their own, but cannot do so until the West stops bombing and destroying their civilization with military, dumb politicians, and propaganda.

  6. Drima on May 24th, 2006 5:19 am

    “Our “friends” the Saudis are still teaching their students that we westerners and non-Muslims are the sons of pigs and dogs in their textbooks.”

    “Western education smears feces all over everything middle East/Muslim and makes the world seam like it always belonged rightfully to Europe”

    Very true in one way or another… Western media makes Muslims look bad and Muslim education and media makes Westerners look like evil pigs…

    Therefore I suggest a “bridging” and “tolerance promoting” education… Obviously the education will never be 100% unbiased but at least on both sides the improvements that can be made are dramatic

  7. The Sudanese Thinker » “NOT a fan of double standards within America’s foreign policy” on September 15th, 2006 11:21 am

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