In This Issue:
- Another Day in the Holy Land
- Who Should You Believe?
- Full List of Articles

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             June 2003
he latest results are in and it appears that attacking Iraq did more harm than good. According to the Pew Research Center study, conducted both before and after the war in Iraq, favorable views towards the United States have dropped dramatically. 

However, the study also identified the widespread belief that the U.S. can improve its image overseas by successfully rebuilding Iraq.
(more about the study's findings >>)

The Right Man
In addition to those opposed to the war, many proponents acknowledge that the current rebuilding efforts underway in Iraq are less than optimal.

Retired General Jay Garner who was appointed to lead Iraq has since been relieved of his post as the top man in charge as the situation there continues to deteriorate. Iraqi protests to the U.S.  occupation are frequent, and even moderate Iraqis are losing faith in America's promises.

Why didn't General Garner succeed?  A decorated General best known for helping the Kurds in Northern Iraq is perhaps an obvious choice. But many Iraqis were not so confident - in fact they were down-right opposed to Garner from the beginning. 

Was it because his strong ties to Israel were unappreciated? Perhaps it was due to the fact he doesn't understand the Iraqi mindset, after all he doesn't even understand Arabic.

David Kirp, a professor of ethics at Berkeley, said that Garner was a "charming example" of American indifference toward the Iraqi people.

Now the Bush administration has appointed L. Paul Bremer to fill in where Garner left off, a former U.S. Ambassador who will hopefully get the reconstruction back on-track.

Will it work? All we know is that Bremer better act fast, as some Iraqis are claiming that life was better under Saddam because they at least had electricity and running water.
 

"To say that the U.S. is there to liberate the Iraqis from Hussein is a major twist of the tongue"  - Peter Baofu Professor of Political Science (read more)
 

Will Bremer help us gain the Iraqi's trust - a necessity for instituting lasting change in Iraq?

Probably not.

Bremer's recent experience includes acting as the Director of Kissinger & Associates, which may cast a dark cloud over him since Henry Kissinger is despised by most Arabs for his hawkish pro-Israeli positions.

However, while at the State Department Bremer served a former US Ambassador to the Netherlands, which is an improvement over appointing a retired General. But he has no experience in Iraq, is not Muslim, and cannot speak Arabic.

Establish Credibility
There are many qualified U.S.  Diplomats who have previously served in Iraq who would be well-suited to further American interests in the region more effectively than either Garner or Bremer. But at this point that may not be enough. To establish a relationship with the Iraqi people based on trust and an acknowledgement of shared goals, the U.S. needs to put forward someone who can "talk the talk." Such a move will help to gain credibility throughout the Arab world as well.

There are a number of individuals in Washington who are already respected in the Arab world, and would offer a new and comprehensive outlook on America's efforts in the region. Hussein Ibish of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee is such a person. James Zogby of the Arab American Institute is another.

Both of these men can use first-hand knowledge and professional experience to effectively marry U.S. interests with those of the Iraqi people to create a win-win situation.

Diplomacy
There is no need to re-invent the wheel. If the current administration could take into account these sensitive issues, perhaps the citizens of Iraq would take the rebuilding efforts seriously and stop attacking U.S. troops.

Otherwise it will become apparent that as we begin unilaterally administering the sale of Iraq's oil that we are only there to exploit their resources.

 

Also in this Issue: Second-Class Citizens A Day in the Holy Land Who Should You Believe? Home Demolition Arabs & Israel Full List of Articles