In Retrospect – Voices of the Gulf (TERM 3 BLOG 1)

FOREWORD:

Sorry, Ms. Chew that I keep on getting stuck on this, just presenting a new perspective…some Pakistan dude wrote this BEFORE the war started so I find it rather…interesting. But I promise the next one will be different... (And now to the show)

In Retrospect – Voices of the Gulf

It is actually a joke, if one considers how simple it would have been for people to see why it would be stupid to get into a place like the Middle East and get oneself put up against the deeply entrenched fanaticism that results inside.

Even if overthrowing Saddam was the goal, it should have been considered that the insurgency that would follow the invasion was the real threat, and not the paper-thin army that Saddam possessed. That was over in 2 weeks. The insurgency took 4 years, and still it is not over.

The Americans already have had countless examples of insurgency in cases ideological or religious fanaticism. One would have thought that after having seen Vietnam, Afghanistan, and seen Israel’s decades-long enmity with its neighbors, notably Palestine, they would have paused to think about the consequences first before going anywhere.

So, what’s the difference between the US policy makers, who couldn’t have, from an outsider’s vantage point, gotten it more wrong, and this particular editor, who couldn’t have gotten it more right?

It is a matter of perspective.

Having an outsider’s vantage point involves standing back and looking objectively at the evidence and likelihoods. It allows one to analyze situations and predict results accurately, and there is no shortage of logical, informed politicians who would know such things. But throw in a political agenda and it all changes. Political agendas can cloud this analysis with the shroud of “policy” and the “greater good”, and in a world of politics, the more powerful political standpoint will always win out, so long as it has enough clout to overrule the opposition.

So, what is the solution to this problem of perspective in policy making and the making of major decisions in the world arena? Get comprehensive insider information, because then we will have a well informed decision. Get us an outsider’s outlook, so we will have an impartial decision. Lastly, in light of the evidence and analysis gathered from the other two, kick as many political agenda as need be out as ends. With all this done, then we can finally make a right decision.

Well, if only it was that easy. Interestingly enough, this prediction coming from an Israeli, an ally of America, Yossi Alpher, holds very true.

“…a wave of anti-American radicalism and terrorism sweeping the Middle East, Iraq engulfed in ethnic unrest, and millions of refugees destabilizing neighboring countries…”

Given the situation, they can’t really back out now. There’s a limit to a nation’s political clout, no matter what the nation, or at least, it seems so for the time being. They, too, have a lot to answer for, and that, too, is not in doubt.

And you know what? We can’t really do anything, save for two things.

One, always listen to the insider. The insider view, unless with intention to deceive, or being deceived in itself, oft proves right.

And second, let’s all have some silence for Iraq, now shall we?

496 words.