Yes, you seem to have put your finger on the problem regarding the blind following of some people in Iraq. Here in the west at the moment, it’s almost the opposite.

Some seem to think – “my leader’s always wrong or corrupt or evil…”…etc!

We don’t seem to know when we’re lucky.

Your point about laying aside weapons is right but, perhaps very idealistic. Although it would work, it is unlikely to happen. The trouble is that just a very few willing to break away from the rest means that THEY can keep conflict going indefinitely. And they bring many “newborns” with them – the generational problem.

The ‘hearts and minds’ struggle is yet to be won.

Perhaps Tony Blair can turn this corner in thinking. Who knows? I hope so anyway.

The new packages announced yesterday for the Palestinians ahead of Annapolis might just capture a few of the broken hearts.

I’d love to use some of your work. Thanks for the offer.

If you’d like to send me your analysis of the past problems – something as in your comment above – ‘the Iraqi people having followed their leader blindly’ – I can make a separate page from you for this blog.

This page here is from an American soldier:

And your artwork is beautiful too. I can use some of that with a link to your own website.

Best wishes to you.

Sorry for the delay in getting back to you.

Can you just clarify this for me:

You said:
“Yes my friend they aim to punish Iraq people not the leader that is the reality , I left Iraq 1989 after saddam deliver a speach and promise to burn half of Israel if they attack Iraq, that was a turning point for me , I told my wife it is time to leave and we left , but the action against Iraq since 1990, with no doubt in the mind of all Iraq’s was to destroy everything that the human can use to survive ,”

Who exactly do you mean by “they aim to punish Iraq people …”

Do you mean the Americans/British or who … meant this?

I don’t dispute that dreadful weapons have always been used in war. I make no excuses for this – but since I was not there and I am not involved in the military or the government – I also make no judgement on WHO exactly used them. I think it’s generally accepted that Saddam used chemical weapons against his own people. I find it hard to believe that we would do that.

But even if it were so, I wouldn’t swop our leaders for Saddam or his ilk.

I never pretend that everything that happens in war & conflict is clean and good, just because it’s the “good guys” doing it.

Thank you for this:

“I would like to thank my prisedent and Tony Blair , for they open the Iraq’s mind to think about many terms they never used , Democracey , freedom, election, human rights , choices .
and to the arab world , they learn one big lesson , if you like to be free do not ask the west , you have to protest againt your leaders you have to take action and build a civilized society or stay were you are pray to God to help you .”

I wonder if Tony Blair’s present work in the Middle East will help in any way. What do you think?

You write movingly, but it’s desperately sad as it sounds completely hopeless. I’m reluctant to accept that anything is hopeless where the human spirit is involved.

This morning I met someone with a newborn baby. It’s for THEM we need to sort out the future and relegate the hurt of the past. Every newborn baby is another chance.

If this sounds naively idealistic, well, the opposite – worldly dystopian – does not inspire me.

Just looking at these good people on this page HAS to mean something.

Reference:

“… the sanction and Iraq war was to punsih all Iraq’s and to destroy the country. that was the goal in my opinion.”

You are obviously content with your life in the USA, but are you saying that the USA/UK/coalition governments had THIS aim – to punish all Iraqis? If so, why?

You seem to be implying that the hold over Iraq’s government emanates from Iran, Saudi & Jordan and their supporters within Iraq. The inevitable conclusion, if you are right and Iraqis cannot be brought together, and if Islam is completely incompatible with democracy, is a greater struggle against Iran (& others in the region). You may think that your president, Mr Bush, has always had this goal in mind anyway.

I defend my former Prime Minister because I believe he thought he was doing the right thing, in order to try to limit and influence Bush, and possibly to try to bring other countries on board to hasten and support a new people-inspired and supported democracy.

But it wasn’t an easy decision and caused Mr Blair much heartache, as well as his job. I differentiate between those who make an honest mistake, (if that’s what it was) no matter how great, and those who kill their own peoples.

I really don’t know where point “zero” is. Do you suggest the Iraqis do away with the present government and have another election? Why bother, if everyone only answers to their own parties and ethnic group?

Or are you saying that Islam is completely incompatible with democracy?

Surely not?

It is not possible to start with the individual and educate them if no-one answers to the law. Each newborn will be brainwashed by the suicide killers and grow up to emulate them.

Is there NO inspirational leader there who could bring them all together, or at least MOST of them?

Sadly it is not likely to be a short conflict, and people will only return when the Iraqi government is strong enough to provide adequate army and police forces. I know people will argue as to the whole business of invading Iraq, its purpose and motivation. We can only hope now that things will improve and that Iraq will eventually become a beacon of light to others in the region who despise such entities as AQ.