Terry Waite (former hostage in Lebanon), The Guardian, November 23:
"...War, as well as being a blunt instrument, fails totally to deal with the root issues underlying terrorism. In the political realm it requires statesmen and women; individuals who can think beyond the next election and who have the wisdom that comes from making an attempt to understand cultures other than those of the west.
"Western democracy has many attractive features and has brought manifold benefits. It takes no intelligence to recognise that it also has its dark side and that it cannot, nor necessarily ought it to be, exported to all parts of the world. If the optimistic statements made by some British and US politicians before the Iraqi war - when it was stated that the conflict would be concluded in weeks - were truly believed then one can only despair at the level of understanding demonstrated."
"...War, as well as being a blunt instrument, fails totally to deal with the root issues underlying terrorism. In the political realm it requires statesmen and women; individuals who can think beyond the next election and who have the wisdom that comes from making an attempt to understand cultures other than those of the west.
"Western democracy has many attractive features and has brought manifold benefits. It takes no intelligence to recognise that it also has its dark side and that it cannot, nor necessarily ought it to be, exported to all parts of the world. If the optimistic statements made by some British and US politicians before the Iraqi war - when it was stated that the conflict would be concluded in weeks - were truly believed then one can only despair at the level of understanding demonstrated."
5 Comments:
You're right. Terry Waite is a flake. Shab, that brave democratic, knows so much about Western democracy and war.
Off to the front, are you soldier?
Like WMD spreading democracy was a pretext for going into Iraq.
There may have been believers amongst some neocons but experienced politicians and officials knew that "sound public reasons" were needed for the oil grab.
Iraq was artificially created by the West in the 1920s. At that time many Arabists knew that trying to weld 3 groups (Kurd, Sunni, Shia) into one country world lead to endless infighting.
For the people who want to control Iraq's oil this model has worked out really well.
Democracy is not possible until the groups are not forced to live together.
Pakistan and India are comparitely successful democracies because they DID split on religious lines.
Perhaps splitting will be a start for Iraq - certainly the Kurds deserve it.
orang
Yes its simplistic but to include all the complexities would mean a book that noone would read.
What of my concept that Iraq was artificially created by the West?
Note "Gigolo Pete" is now "Spying and Sensuality"
I agree with you Shab.
Democracy is something the West need not feel guilty about.
Its Arab oil money - perpetuating the Saudi absolute monarchy (and others) that is the main drag on democracy in the Middle East.
Even though Western countries seek to warp or reinvent democracies (Iran is a case in point) at least there are some democratic seeds in the Middle East.
Are, but it is significant that you peeked shaba.
The site is for the thinking person who has worldly instincts.
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