..wouldn't want to make them mad? Reader comment on article: Saddam's Rap Sheet
Submitted by Dr.zEn(United States), Aug 23, 2002 at 15:08
As I read comments here those vollied into the fray at any 'watercooler' discussion at the office, I cannot help but be amazed by the assertion that we will 'anger the Arab street' if we go into Iraq.
Pardon me? I thought 'ramming airliners into buildings' was about as angry as you could get...and that any anger on top of that would be 'gravy'.
I, too have travelled the Mid-East for business and military, and I can't help but agree with Mr. Pipes that there is basically a low-level anti-American conspiracy in the Muslim world. Attacking Iraq isn't going to make things worse because they can't really get any worse!
On the other hand, Iraq is the non-Islamist lynchpin between Arabia and Iran. It's been said that anytime US soldiers are within 1000 miles of Iran, the pro-democracy crowd in the universities are emboldened. Changing the Iraqi regime to a U.S. friendly one would further encourage the pro-democratic movement in Iran, and decimate Iran's Islamist movement. Further, the governemnt in Saudi Arabia will have a whole new dynamic, one that will change that regime for the better over the next dozen years.
...so not only is a change in power for Iraq the best thing for them, it's the best thing for us. Let's get that clown out of Baghdad so we can help these folks, and put that much more of the terrorist threat to bed.
Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Comments are screened for relevance, substance, and tone, and in some cases edited, before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome, but not hostile, libelous, or otherwise objectionable statements. Original writing only, please.
