The Iraq Situation - Challenging the Misconceptions

There seem to be a lot of misconceptions in the political/global arena. Starfire is here to clear them up a bit, not to get involved in human, partisan disputes, but to give some guidance so that conflict can be replaced with reconciliation, injustice with justice, everything falling once again into it's rightful and natural place in the world. This is possible, it is even eventually likely- yet it will take time to consider and to be honest. To think through our hearts, not in spite of them. For now we will look at an issue which is getting a lot of coverage- though little of it thorough or appropriate- the situation in Iraq.

The first thing to be noted here is the importance of sticking to the facts, avoiding any form of misinformation. Fact number one is that the Western countries did indeed support and help arm Saddam, whilst he was in power. Perhaps they didn't realise the extent of the monster that they were creating (though this is perhaps a little too kind considering their 'benefits' regarding an ability to control the land through him)- yet it matters not, as they continued such support even when this became apparent. They supplied lists of suspected Communists to be 'liquidated' by him and used satellite imagery to help him aim weapons in war and aided him in his campaigns of genocide.

The Iraqi people are unlikely to quickly forget the help from Western secret services in arming their oppressor- they are unlikely to distinguish too greatly between the armies of The West and their secret services- though the soldiers of the former are of course ordinary people just like themselves. They also have a great cynicism towards any expression of authority- yet as all countries need an authority to govern them fairly, this attitude needs very much to be challenged and changed. Mishandling of the region and percieved biases against the Sunni minority have only served to harden such attitudes- to the extent that Iraq appears to be ungovernable- to the utter loss of all thosde who wish to dwell there in peace, and perhaps even have nowhere else to go.

This may all go some way to better explaining the 'celebratory' reactions of ordinary Iraqis to attacks on Western vehicles than the more obvious visual one- that they are simply barbarians lacking the very rudiments of civilised thought. Remember, these are attacks on military weaponry that they are celebrating, not necessarily the inescapable effect on their occupants- they are celebrating a symbolic attack on their historical oppressors- be it Right-Wing puppet government or the military forces representing it. It is this that gives the insurgents their base of popular support, not local religious beliefs or xenophobia, though the latter do play a part, as shall be discussed more below. To combat this perception there must be efforts made to disassociate Westerners from the Saddam regime, perhaps even extending apologies if not for it's actions but for having turned a 'blind eye' to it's actions. Without such a change in image, Western pronouncements in this area will fall easy victim to accusation of hypocrisy. Yet hypocrisy or none, The West really does have the answers to developing the Middle-Eastern region into a peaceful and harmonious one, just as through their federalist arrangements the USA and EU enjoy peaceful existences, limiting competitiveness to the likes of the economic or sports-cultural spheres.

The second point to bear in mind is that many peoples have historically resisted military presences that haven't shown sufficient respect for local customs and mores. Without showing this respect- which should be a part of every soldier or administrator's training- they are apt to cause such offence that they appear hostile, 'foreign' not only in origin but in terms of a lack of sympathy for the local peoples . This very point is central to accusations of a lack of preparedness on the part of the Allies for the needs of occupying and rebuilding this country. It is this that practically sealed their window of opportunity, in which by ousting Saddam they appeared to be a very different force- which, of course, as Western individuals with morals they are- yet their current image there needs to be changed. People and peoples naturally have a distaste for war and weaponry- as spoken of in the Tao Te Ching- they naturally want to live. All the more so when such weaponry seems to be held in a position against them.

The third point is to look at the real reasons behinds this whole endeavor and to examine whether it is salvageable on purely moral grounds. The Allies won the second world war very much not because of technological superiority- in many ways this was the province of the Axis forces. They won it from having a morally superior position, which in turn affected their morale and very 'will' to win, to win for the betterment of humanity as a whole; just as the subconscious will of the Axis forces must have been to lose- so that not only their own people, but that the world might be free of tyranny. We must distinguish between the common man, between the soldiers, and the ultimate director or leader. The common man is the ultimate friend of the other common man. These ultimates affect the course of victory, which is often viewed a s the 'will of God'- in the American civil war as well, now seen as a war to free slaves, though this truth was a heart-felt one, perhaps not seen so clearly by the conscious minds of the participants. The 'Will of God' is not something just to beseech and bring through sacrifices- it is the very will of justice, fairness, true morality, of love itself. It cannot in any way be bought. It can only be lived through the honestly loving heart.

That said, the Iraq situation can only be peacefully resolved when a true democracy emerges and the Iraqis thus feel that they are getting something in return for their communal sacrifices and their seeming exploitation by foreign businesses. When they get the good The West can offer, they will soon forgive the bad they experienced at the hands of the notorious 'military-industrial' complex. One day, this day will come. Until then, some form of conflict will remain.

The fourth point is the necessity of redefining and revolutionising populist Islam, so that it no longer feeds on armed conflicts and suffering and returns to being a peaceful faith. The 'trouble with Islam' needs to be solved, by the strengthening of the reformers and those most influenced by peaceful religions and ideologies. It matters little if Islam is or isn't reformable in and of itself. The main point is to have it on the peaceful path it enjoyed in it's golden age. To reject Islam out of hand would be like 'throwing out the baby with the bathwater', considering all the cultural and societal achievements possible through total reformation. What Muslims may not like the sound of, is that this reformation will probably come from them listening more to the teachings of the peaceful Bahais and other groups they currently consider to be 'heretics'. What is certain though, is that it needs to come from deep within the communities of Islam itself. It can be inspired from without, yet it musty really be born from within.

I have faith this is possible. I also have faith that what will come with this will be an acceptance of Christ that will be unprecedented for these people. I hope this doesn't come across as offensive, as it well might to those with different beliefs, but I stress that we have as much right to hope and pray that others share our beliefs as we have to have them ourselves. For Starfire this is the very nature of reality that we are talking about- not a doctrine to be imposed by any form of coercion. It is something only to be encouraged. When this change comes, their fortunes and outlook towards the 'Non-Islamic world' will change from what can be seen as a paranoid and self-defensive posture, to an outgoing and loving one, that is full of warmth. Tolerance breeds tolerance.

I hope that here Starfire and his dreams of peace are understood, and no association with any form of chauvinism or fanaticism is mistakenly seen to be implied. Peace is something for all of God's various children, whatever their race, colour or creed. It is the Divine gift, to be bestowed on those whose hearts welcome it, who are happy to live in a spirit of tolerance and forgiveness, who are open to his grace. All peace on the earth stems from this divine source- peace is something we can welcome, something we can help to make. Yet it is from The Will of the Heavenly Father being heeded and put into affect. It is now as it ever was and ever shall be.

Amen.