From: Charles Hixson (charleshixsn@earthlink.net)
Date: Tue Mar 25 2003 - 20:36:48 MST
Lee Corbin wrote:
>Charles writes
>
>
>
>>Lee Corbin wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>>Cory writes
>>>
>>>
>>> ...
>>
>My God, if one cannot even predict the reactions of Germans
>after defeat---and you better believe that one hell of a lot more
>of them supported Hitler than Iraqis support Saddam---and this
>in a nation (Germany) vastly, vastly more similar to you than
>the Arab countries, then you have no idea of what to expect or
>exactly what flavor of hatred the current war is inspiring.
>Who knows? Life is valued so differently in that part of the
>world, and perhaps even the adage "might makes right" could
>be so differently valued, that I must dispute your statement.
>
>Lee
>
You are right, in the sense that the number of possible reactions is
large. If I only had a single expectation, and pinned everything on
that, then I would agree with your assessment. But I have a range of
expectations that I consider more or less probable. And one of the ones
that I consider likely is that some measurable fraction of the
population will be motivated by revenge.
As to my being too "unemotional", you are probably right. But that's my
reaction. I have the typical nerd detatchment from active interest in
politics, though I realize that this is not the best reaction. So I do
my best.
I consider it likely that very few Iraqi support Saddam. This may just
make them more angry when they are attacked in the cause of someone they
would rather not defend. And despite the public announcements, it's a
bit difficult to surrender to an artillery shell that's fired from
beyond your visual horizon. So people who might have been our
supporters are turned into our bitter enemies... (or, I admit, perhaps not).
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