Kerry and Bush Are Both Wrong

Iraqi Troops and Police Will Never Be Loyal to Allawi or the U.S.

We have heard a great deal about Iraqi troops taking over for American troops. In fact, with all the American killing in Fallujah, Baghdad, Samarra and Ramadi, don’t expect any Iraqi to be loyal to America or its puppet, Iyad Allawi. Bush and Kerry both don’t understand the Iraqi mind or culture. The men the U.S. trains will never be loyal to the U.S. or to Allawi or other puppets the U.S. may put in Iraq.

Iraqis will not kill their cousins. They will turn their training on the Americans, not use it against other Iraqis. This is why some of the Americans realized this and turned away, as of today, almost 40% of the 100,000 or so Iraqis they were training. It became apparent the Iraqis did not agree with U.S. policy or the brutality that Allawi is fostering during his dictatorial regime.

The talk Bush and Kerry make about Iraqis doing the dirty work of the American troops so the Americans can go home and let the Iraqis kill each other is out and out ignorance on the part of the Americans. Why is it that they can’t take the time to understand the culture of Iraq? The ethnocentrism of our leadership, from both sides of the aisle, is appalling but no clearer than with their plans to use Iraqis to do their dirty work, that is to keep the populace under control while America siphons off the booty from the Bush invasion.

Recently we spoke with a major officer from the marine base at Camp Pendleton. He said the American troops had absolutely no cultural training before going into Iraq. He felt short-changed on understanding what he and his men were getting into in Iraq.

We also know that passing out candy to the kids and playing soccer with them is not going to go that far; this is photo op material, not real diplomacy or friendship development. We condemn the carnage of yesterday, but we would like to know who sent the children out to be with the American troops. Iraqi parents never let their children go by the American troops. Word on the street is that a teacher was ordered to bring the students out to get candy; he was ordered by Allawi’s office. The teacher was told, either bring the children out for photos and candy or lose your job. Thus, the teacher was strong-armed by Allawi’s office; this is what put the children in harm’s way.

Today we hear about “American and Iraqi troops” attacking Samarra. When speaking with people in Samarra, it is clear this is an American operation with F 16s, Apaches and other tank and weapons support, with a few Iraqis close by to make it look like a joint operation. American troops have killed many Iraqis in Samarra; Bush has made more enemies for America. The people of Samarra will not forget this, nor will the rest of Iraq.

Somehow it is odd that the American media don’t understand that you can’t make friends or quell unrest by bombing people, especially civilians; you only create more enemies.

Somehow, there is a disconnect between Bush and reality, but also the major American media has this same disconnect. Of course, the U.S. media may have the same attitude toward the Iraqis that U.S. commanders had when they came into Iraq, that the people were less human than the Americans, they were “ragheads,”, they were “the enemy,” and were categorized negatively in every communiqué. The U.S. media treats Iraqi deaths the same way, not that important—just a note or comment in passing.

That’s not how we or the rest of the Arab and Muslim worlds, Kofi Annan of the UN and many in the EU see the people of Iraq.

Somehow, President Bush is so ignorant that he believes his own lies; he repeats them often enough, as does Wolfowitz, Cheney and Rumsfeld. Iraq is not better off today; Iraq is more unstable than ever, the Americans are hated more than ever and they will continue to be hated in Iraq and in other parts of the Arab and Muslim worlds for their Israeli-type behavior in Iraq. Every Arab and every Muslim in the world sees parallels between the brutality Israel is using in killing innocent Palestinian civilians and the destruction of their homes and the American behavior in Iraq. The anger toward both Israel and the U.S. will not die away; it will be kept in the hearts of Arabs and Muslims for decades and more to come.

Clearly, President Bush has not made America safer through his invasion and behavior in Iraq, nor by his total support of Sharon in Israel. But both Bush and Kerry are in for a terrible surprise when they finally realize the Iraqis will not be their slaves or Vichy warriors for America or any puppet regime America puts into place.

Unfortunately, the peace-loving people of the Middle East and of America will pay the price for this immoral and dangerously brutal behavior by the Bush team.

Ahmed Ali is a correspondent for todaysalternativenews.com in Iraq; Sam Hamod is the editor of www.todaysalternativenews.com. Both are experts in Middle Eastern and Islamic politics and culture. They may be reached through Dr. Hamod at shamod@cox.net .