From: Lee Corbin (lcorbin@tsoft.com)
Date: Sat Apr 12 2003 - 09:36:44 MDT
Mike Lorrey writes
> > And while I don't share his pessimism, I certainly do
> > agree with his concern that the present idiot-in-chief
> > isn't ready to handle success.
I'm continually appalled at the negative "cult of personality"
on this list. Evidently most people think that Bush runs the
government entirely on his own, as a sort of telepathic slaver
over all the millions of government functionaries. No matter
how many times the entrenched bureaucrats in the various
departments are referred to, nor no matter how many times the
president's advisors (Rumsfeld, Rice, Powell, etc.) and their
staffs are referred to, it just doesn't matter: the refrain
is always the same: George Bush doesn't have the I.Q. to do
the job (whether it's "managing" the economy, or "conducting"
foreign affairs).
> > However I believe, and hope, that wiser minds can prevail and turn
> > our symbolic victory today into something real and long-term.
>
> I'd pit any one of Bush's crew against the entire combined IQ of the
> anti-war Hollywoodites.
Mike, it's pretty useless. These references to Bush's crew fall
upon deaf ears. Those who have a low opinion of George Bush's
personal characteristics are determined to perceive all of U.S.
policy as an extension of that particular mind and will.
> > In particular, I'm glad the Brits are there. They might have a bad
> > record as imperialist dogs, but right now that's what Iraq needs:
> > someone who is experienced in bringing order to a conquered people.
> > Hopefully they are now enlightened enough to then give them their
> > independence without the need of a revolution.
>
> British experience in bringing order to conquered people usually
> involved lots of executions, imprisonments, and forced exile.
How sure are you that such were not necessary in the 19th century
when dealing with primitive populations? A lot is made in the
discussions right now about how well it went in Japan and Germany
after the war, even though they were vastly less appreciative of
what the invaders had accomplished.
Well, the reason is extremely simple: Iraq far more closely
resembles the 19th century nations that Britain administered
than it does Japan or Germany, whose citizens were already
quite used to working together in a modern society. How much
looting took place in Frankfurt after allied liberation?
The looting will stop only when the five or ten of Iraqis
inclined to take personal advantage of the situation are
fearful of drastic punishment. The enlightened leaders of
the West are not capable of providing that level of fear,
and a repressive civilian authority sooner or later will
be established. (Hopefully sooner, and hopefully far less
repressive than Saddam's regime had been.)
As for the title of this thread, I do not believe that there
are any "predictable stupidities" concerning the present
situation. The only thing close to predictable is the continued
naivety of many people who think that the situation is simple,
"if only" people of noble intentions and good character were
in charge in Washington.
Lee
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