Re: [WAR/IRAQ] American POW's

From: Charles Hixson (charleshixsn@earthlink.net)
Date: Tue Mar 25 2003 - 20:36:48 MST

  • Next message: John Grigg: "(Iraq) This war a meatgrinder for the U.S.?"

    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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