69 million page views

Idealism

Reader comment on item: The Roots of Iraq's Rebellion

Submitted by Robert Vaughn (United States), Apr 14, 2004 at 01:42

Dear Mr.Pipes,

I find your insight on current world affairs one of the most thoughtful and reasoned voices I know. That being said I must say I highly disagree with your conclusion that what Iraq needs is democratically minded strongman. Your basis for this conclusion, that being that the history of Islamic nations proves that no foreign power has the wherewithall or ability to overcome basic fundamentals of Islamic faith which make imposition of Western ideals of freedom and democratic self rule impossible seems to me to be defeatist and would betray the ideals we have put forth to the world in regards to what human beings should expect from each other. I understand the need to not be idealistic to the point of irrationalism, so committed to a belief that we cannot adapt to the clear evidence of a failing strategy but I do not believe that the old models of Muslim inflexablity as they applied to clear cases of colonialism within the last 400 years will be the deciding factor in Iraq.

You cannot escape the fact that it is a different age we live in, an age where information travels around the globe. The success of America serves as a model to the potential of liberty. Our power and our security demonstrate to a highly sophisticated people that liberty and interaction (free markets ect) bring strength and security and a chance to honor and practice their faith in peace. A "democratically minded strongman" will only serve the intrests of those who wish to point to the hypocricy of America and use it as a tool of recruitment against us. I believe we must break the old models through bold and decisive and yes, revolutionary action. The Iraqi's may reject this model in the end. They may decide security and Islamic leadership preferable to bold action. In such a situation we would have no choice but to set up a strongman but I believe we must at least try. I would appreciate any comments you would make in rebuttal. Sincerely,

Robert, SSgt USAF
Submitting....

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".

Submit a comment on this item

<< Previous Comment      Next Comment >>

Reader comments (91) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
Peace among all the people [125 words]Ashley Ansara, DVM, PhDOct 12, 2005 00:2326833
missing facts... [270 words]linzApr 27, 2004 22:1214910
What Strongman. [64 words]Sheldon LazarowtzApr 27, 2004 16:4314899
The Roots of Iraq's Rebellion [8 words]emil steinberger, m.d.Apr 25, 2004 23:2014867
New Romans Bearing Gifts [160 words]Toby PetzoldApr 24, 2004 23:3714859
2The American 'weakness' [248 words]Raymond T. KyleApr 23, 2004 19:0314849
British rule in Egypt [62 words]Paul SavitzApr 22, 2004 15:5214839
Yes, but... [177 words]BrianApr 20, 2004 22:4714810
Excellent, and the implications for Israel? [91 words]Y Brandstetter MDApr 20, 2004 05:5014783
Rebellion? [297 words]TomApr 19, 2004 11:4014773
What about Iran? [58 words]JoeApr 18, 2004 15:5314770
It won't work [181 words]Darwin BarrettApr 18, 2004 13:5614769
Isn't this different? [202 words]DavidApr 18, 2004 12:5014768
we need to use more force [53 words]G singhApr 18, 2004 03:4314761
I disagree with Mr Pipes [77 words]Raminder GillApr 17, 2004 20:1914755
The US Obstacles in Iraq [867 words]Shimon Z. KleinApr 17, 2004 12:5514752
Iraq's Rebellion [274 words]Lisette MuradApr 17, 2004 09:2214748
1Islam [104 words]Dr. Ashley AnsaraApr 16, 2004 22:5914746
Iraqi enterprise [132 words]Ilya ZwiebackApr 16, 2004 21:4414745
1There was an American strongman in Iraq... [3 words]Ahmed AliApr 16, 2004 19:5214744
To Val Shkolnikov... [61 words]gjsApr 16, 2004 19:2214741
Find a "Democratically minded Iraqi" [167 words]Tom LoperApr 16, 2004 16:1414739
Regarding Muslim rule by Muslims only. [64 words]Arthur S. GoldbergApr 16, 2004 16:0514738
Much Debatable History Lesson [93 words]Matthew ScribnerApr 16, 2004 12:1014732
The RootsofIraqi Rebellion art.1723 [37 words]S.C.PandaApr 16, 2004 06:3414729
Aesop and Daniel [59 words]Reality CheckApr 15, 2004 15:4814727
clearing some points of view [72 words]E. DarwishApr 15, 2004 14:1314725
Interpretation of the patterns of colonialism [104 words]PeteApr 15, 2004 12:4214724
The Roots of Iraq's Rebellion [138 words]Moin Ansari: American Jewish Muslim AllianceApr 15, 2004 12:3114723
It's only a clash of perceptions, not of cultures [274 words]Michael ElvinApr 15, 2004 12:1814722
Declare Victory and bring back our kids: Not be scared of "shariyaa" [1031 words]Moin Ansari: AMERICAN JEWISH MUSLIM ALLIANCEApr 15, 2004 11:4114721
On Muslim Theology [211 words]Fay VoshellApr 15, 2004 08:4714720
MUCH NEEDED HISTORY LESSON [86 words]Tova MatteroApr 15, 2004 02:2514716
Your solution to bringing peace to Iraq [226 words]Yolanda CanfieldApr 15, 2004 02:1114715
The Growth of Democracy [251 words]Val ShkolnikovApr 15, 2004 00:3114713
Complete agreement [19 words]JacquiApr 15, 2004 00:1514710
Freedom Not Intuitive [117 words]Rick HellerApr 14, 2004 23:2614709
"Democratically-minded"? [63 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Melvin A. FechterApr 14, 2004 22:5614708
A Combination of Roots of Rebellion [28 words]Timothy B. RobertsApr 14, 2004 22:0314707
Agreement [48 words]Roger DavisApr 14, 2004 21:0114706
Sistani=Strongman? [14 words]FredApr 14, 2004 19:3014704
Who? [33 words]Ann Charney ColmoApr 14, 2004 14:2614700
Islam and democracy, like oil and water. [159 words]Bill SweeneyApr 14, 2004 12:4214696
But then there are the Utopians..... [326 words]Diane AldenApr 14, 2004 12:3514695
I agree mostly: [127 words]William OliverApr 14, 2004 12:2114693
Brilliant as usual! [6 words]Walter D'UllApr 14, 2004 11:1114692
recipe unworkable for lack of key ingredient [72 words]H.C. KlingmanApr 14, 2004 10:3514691
Two Questions [98 words]JGApr 14, 2004 10:3414690
Superb article [29 words]Charles DICKINSONApr 14, 2004 10:0514688
How can Muslim ambitions be confined to their own? [356 words]Chana GivonApr 14, 2004 10:0114687
Sure this plan will work? [35 words]John PhilipsApr 14, 2004 06:4514685
Deadline is for Iran, not Iraq [117 words]BarryApr 14, 2004 05:2714682
Idealism [343 words]Robert VaughnApr 14, 2004 01:4214681
Highly Imformative [259 words]AvrahamApr 14, 2004 01:3614680
Hope springs eternal [187 words]gjsApr 14, 2004 00:1414676
I agree [47 words]Joanne PostelmansApr 13, 2004 23:5114675
disagree on failure [128 words]George TomkinApr 13, 2004 23:3214674
Rule by non-Muslims is an abomination [208 words]Jonathan UsherApr 13, 2004 22:5214672
I Have a question [149 words]Arthur BayApr 13, 2004 21:4614670
There are Muslims and there are Muslims. [288 words]MalvinaApr 13, 2004 21:2714669
Excellent [14 words]Peter KellyApr 13, 2004 20:2214667
This last article-about pulling out and leaving behind a strongman [163 words]Gary (2nd generation American/ Indiana-born)Apr 13, 2004 20:1514666
Ah, history! [197 words]Peter J. HerzApr 13, 2004 20:0314665
roots of conflict in Iraq [166 words]donvanApr 13, 2004 19:4714664
Telling the Truth but with one problem [1487 words]
w/response from Daniel Pipes
Seth J. FrantzmanApr 13, 2004 19:2114663
Question [234 words]Dan ReidApr 13, 2004 18:3514661
Another Ataturk or regional wars [168 words]Ilona MelstradsApr 13, 2004 17:4914659
Additional Actions we can Take [228 words]Gary kardonApr 13, 2004 17:4414658
There are two fallacies in Pipes' analysis: [432 words]TanruApr 13, 2004 17:4314657
Agreed, but ... [15 words]Ira WeinerApr 13, 2004 17:3914656
Roots of Iraq's Rebellion [46 words]NENETTE GRUNBERGApr 13, 2004 17:2014655
Did the Bush Administration know? [62 words]Edward Goodman, MDApr 13, 2004 17:0214654
Iraq religion will not accept the West [27 words]Robert KeatsApr 13, 2004 16:4314653
Can Muslims ever secularize? [153 words]Pat KunzApr 13, 2004 15:4814652
At last somebody with intellectual cred speaks the obvious [32 words]Howard VeitApr 13, 2004 15:2314651
The Root's of Iraq's Rebellion [96 words]Bill TrebingApr 13, 2004 15:1914650
On the other hand.. [280 words]ScottApr 13, 2004 15:1314649
Tantamount to re-establishing Hussein. [448 words]Kirk BertinoApr 13, 2004 14:4814646
History not always a good teacher [83 words]Fan of Dr. PipesApr 13, 2004 14:4414645
on "The Roots of Iraq's Rebellion" [146 words]VladApr 13, 2004 14:3814644
A new and more terrible future Iraqi uprising. [152 words]Thomas C. Nixon--Ph. D.Apr 13, 2004 14:3214643
Send this Article to the President [63 words]Rae SpenglerApr 13, 2004 14:2414642
Finding a strong-man to rule Iraq - come on! [309 words]Lloyd Lionel KleinApr 13, 2004 14:1614641
"The Roots of Iraq's Rebellion" What about turkey? [105 words]Rich McMahonApr 13, 2004 14:0614640
Missing the point [106 words]JoaquimApr 13, 2004 13:3814638
Quite insighful [327 words]Barak QueijaApr 13, 2004 13:3714637
is hope disappearing [228 words]john W. mcginleyApr 13, 2004 13:2614636
Which strong man? [120 words]Howard MirkinApr 13, 2004 13:2014635
How about Britain in Iraq and transJordan and etc etc?? [27 words]Henry KriegerApr 13, 2004 13:0814634
Missing the Point [19 words]Bob GreenbergApr 13, 2004 12:5214633
Iraq was never united as a country, it was coerced [112 words]Ken BesigApr 13, 2004 12:4514632

Follow Daniel Pipes

Facebook   Twitter   RSS   Join Mailing List

All materials by Daniel Pipes on this site: © 1968-2024 Daniel Pipes. daniel.pipes@gmail.com and @DanielPipes

Support Daniel Pipes' work with a tax-deductible donation to the Middle East Forum.Daniel J. Pipes

(The MEF is a publicly supported, nonprofit organization under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Contributions are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law. Tax-ID 23-774-9796, approved Apr. 27, 1998.

For more information, view our IRS letter of determination.)