Winning the Hearts And Minds: One DNA molecule at a time.

...Um, ok, are we talking out of both sides of our mouth here?

Published on December 6, 2004 By Solnac In Politics

Returning to Fallujah

Did I miss something? Was I asleep when I was told we were fighting for Iraqi freedom? Was I visualizing something else entirely? Maybe Bush and I have different definitions of 'freedom'. Apparently his involves DNA profiling.

Look, I can hear it now, so all you conservatives can save your breath: 'We're at war here, and Fallujah was a large battleground insurgent zone, it's expected that the armed forces are gonna be a little paranoid'. I expected curfews and patrolling the streets. DNA testing and retina scans to doublecheck identity seems a little over the top. in my humble opinon. Slightly costly too, and with a seven trillion dollar debt, you can bet that that's going to blossom into more in a short period of time. I can even admire Bush's commitment in making sure we make the Janurary deadline in elections.

It's a lousy way to preach freedom to the masses, though. I guess when I visualized the US talking about Iraqi freedom I visualized a mini third world USA, with the family car, the free speech on TV...maybe a few Marines for security, but not this. Iraqis enjoying our kind of freedom we have here. Hell, even introduce them to the internet. It's a far cry, isn't it?

Could Putin be correct and not just spouting sour grapes? Are we forming our own dictatorship in this case? I fear that while he is bitter about the Ukraine elections and the Iraq invasion and a few other matters, the man is not completely wrong with his description of democracy by dictatorship, and I wonder if elections in Iraq can be handled in a war zone, no matter how 'stable' of one happens to be.

Putin slams dictatorships in West.

When is freedom not quite freedom? And do these people have less freedom then when we 'liberated' them?

Maybe we need to stop and ask these questions.

Glad he's free, but sad we've got a long way to go for the Iraqis, the wolf dragon/AWM

Sol

Comments (Page 1)

dabe

on Dec 06, 2004

Democracy at the end of a gun............................. Now, there's an oxymoron.
Interesting article, Solnac.

Dr Guy

on Dec 06, 2004

I wonder if elections in Iraq can be handled in a war zone, no matter how 'stable' of one happens to be.

One only has to look at the history of the US to know that it can be. We held elections throughout the Civil war, during an open war, not insurgent unrest.

It has been done, it can be done again.

hitparade

on Dec 06, 2004

The following is an excerpt from the article that you linked:

"Bellon asserted that previous attempts to win trust from Iraqis suspicious of US intentions had telegraphed weakness by asking,” 'What are your needs? What are your emotional needs?' All this Oprah [stuff]," he said. "They want to figure out who the dominant tribe is and say, 'I'm with you.' We need to be the benevolent, dominant tribe.... They're never going to like us," he added, echoing other Marine commanders who cautioned against raising hopes that Fallujans would warmly welcome troops when they return to ruined houses and rubble-strewn streets. The goal, Bellon said, is "mutual respect."

I posted the following comments in another blog whose topic was similar to yours.

It is my understanding that the Arabic mu means 'safety' and that the verb afah means 'to protect' : mu afah would therefore refer to the Mafia seen as a clan offering protection to its members. What fills a power vacuum in a place such as Fallujah? If you would take the time, I'd be interested in hearing your view, were you say National Security adviser to Pres. Bush, on how to handle the present situation in Fallujah, and in Iraq in general.

kingbee

on Dec 06, 2004

I posted the following comments in another blog whose topic was similar to yours

acknowledging your wisdom in so doing, im emulating you by posting an updated version of my response to your comment in another blog etc. etc.

"Bellon asserted that previous attempts to win trust from Iraqis suspicious of US intentions had telegraphed weakness by asking,” 'What are your needs? What are your emotional needs?' All this Oprah [stuff]," he said. "They want to figure out who the dominant tribe is and say, 'I'm with you.' We need to be the benevolent, dominant tribe.... They're never going to like us," he added, echoing other Marine commanders who cautioned against raising hopes that Fallujans would warmly welcome troops when they return to ruined houses and rubble-strewn streets. The goal, Bellon said, is "mutual respect."

It is my understanding that the Arabic mu means 'safety' and that the verb afah means 'to protect' : mu afah would therefore refer to the Mafia seen as a clan offering protection to its members. What fills a power vacuum in a place such as Fallujah?

major bellon (now i know who he is) seems to be saying we've erred by not emulating saddam and the baathists--or any fairly well-run street or prison gang--in establishing a new society based the law of the pack.

you also managed to once again to dredge up that bizarre mafia conspiracy connection thing you find so intriguing. i may be able to fill in a few gaps. have you noticed that in many countries where english isnt the national tongue, iraq is spelled 'irak'? it puzzlled me til i remembered that cleopatra is the anglicized version of Kleopatra and from there the rest just jumped out at me Italia Rakketeerio Antipasto Kleopatra. see how it all fits together? as the italian occupiers of ethiopia were forced to flee by the allies, the mafia dons whod set up shop after salassi's defeat decided to cool their heels in egypt til the sandstorm settled. as it turned out, they overshot egypt and wound up in irak. determined not to lose respetti, they put out word they'd intentionally chosen iraq because what kinda country would letta broad be king?

hitparade

on Dec 06, 2004

The comparison to ‘mafia culture’ is not intended to suggest a 'conspiracy', but rather is an attempt to understand the culture, psychology - the fears- that dominate, and, thereby, control such societies.

I interpret Major Bellon's approach as one finally grappling with the local realties of Iraq’s Mafia culture. I view this as a fundamental breakthrough in American thinking. Exclusively limiting American intelligence to understanding the problem only in terms of religious fundamentalism misses the mark. Hopefully, this new insight as to the role that ‘mafia culture’ plays in Iraq (which predates Islam), will effectively be used to break down the thug-culture that dominates Fallujah, and replaces it with democratic institutions. I truly hope the elections on the Jan. 30 occur, the 'mafia thugs' & their fundamentalist allies will otherwise claim that they alone can protect the "clan members."

hitparade

on Dec 06, 2004

kingbee, BTW, the kleo connection ... very funny.

Sicily has a long & complicated history, of which Arab culture has played a significant part: an Arab tribe called Ma afir occupied Palermo in pre-Norman times. When speaking of losing face in the Arab world, it's the same as a Mafioso demanding respect. I have blog I posted a while back, the title is Proverbs of Protection, in which I quote an Arabic proverb: Protection is power & power is protection. I believe it is important to try and view things from the angle of the other fella when trying to understand how to realize our objectives.

kingbee

on Dec 06, 2004

‘mafia culture’ plays in Iraq (which predates Islam)

first of all, iraq doesnt predate islam or much of anything prior to wwl. i dont know why you are so driven to interject the mafia into what is admittedly millenia-old tribal rivalries. its not necessarily even thuggery so much as it is hatfield-mccoy feuding on a grander scale. heres a link to an article i posted recently concerning a relatively peaceful (until someone--anyone--tries to subjugate them) province in which the british have taken the wiser course of not getting involved in tribe vs tribe warfare. Link if anything the thuggery youre alluding to is a consequence of the hussein dictatorship and what major bellon is advocating is, at bottom line, reverting to it out of desperation.

im guessing youre familiar with this site Link that goes on at length about the speculation as to the origin of the term mafia. this seems to be the source from which the others derive their claims. please note the paragraph immediately following the one in which the arabic origin youre suggesting begins with the words 'yet another improbable source...'.

kingbee

on Dec 06, 2004

. I believe it is important to try and view things from the angle of the other fella when trying to understand how to realize our objectives.

i couldnt agree more with this statement and if any attempt had been made to do that, we wouldnt now be faced with a new vietnam in iraq--or even the original vietnam in vietnam (if you havent seen errol morris' excellent documentary-interview with mcnamara--one of whose 11 points is almost identical to your statement i quoted--please make an effort to do so; i think youll find it as amazing as i did).

(i am passing familiar with the saracen occupation of palermo; what exactly are you considering pre-norman times?)

i believe i read your article in which you cited this proverb

Protection is power & power is protection

in my opinion, there's a more relevant--altho equally ancient--aphormism that has apparently returned to popular use since our invasion: 'my brother and i against my cousin; my cousin, my brother and i against all others.'

hitparade

on Dec 06, 2004

kingbee, I wasn't aware of that site. Thanks.

I do have a copy of Hess' book, to which the author on the site refers. My understanding is that Hess, a German academic, did not entirely understand the nuances of the Sicilian language he attempted to translate. Gaia Sevadio's book, Mafioso, is considered the best on the subject. He goes through the various theories, and explanations. He concludes, "It is in fact likely that the word has an Arab ancestry."

BTW, that the bandit & mafia culture in that region predates Islam is accurate.

The NYPD has enlisted the services of former CIA & Military counter-terrorism experts. In addition, the department has tapped into its Mafia experts in developing psychological profiles. All are working in conjunction, unlike the Justice Department, in strategizing a way to combat & defeat terrorism.

hitparade

on Dec 06, 2004

king bee, "(i am passing familiar with the saracen occupation of palermo; what exactly are you considering pre-norman times?)"

Before 1000's, they ruled Sicily for two centuries.

In connection with understanding one's foe, NYPD counter-intelligence is no longer confined only to surveillance and infiltration of Mosques. In fact, some Mosque simply will not tolerate extremism, and are cooperating.

A disturbing nexus has been established, however, between certain Arabic-criminal groups, and religious zealots -- straight out of Fallujah no less. Before military operations in Fallujah, you may recall a series of threats to American cities, tit for tat promises of retribution. This is a frightening development because the crime groups are adept at smuggling, etc. The good news is that money drives these criminal enterprises, not religous zealotry, and the NYPD is pretty good at exploiting criminal greed. Furthermore, the jails are filled with rats, and that goes far….

GrooveDygger

on Dec 06, 2004

Getting back to the 'Hearts And Minds' aspect of this article:

US admits the war for ‘hearts and minds’ in Iraq is now lost

Pentagon report reveals catalogue of failure
By Neil Mackay, Investigations Editor

THE Pentagon has admitted that the war on terror and the invasion and occupation of Iraq have increased support for al-Qaeda, made ordinary Muslims hate the US and caused a global backlash against America because of the “self-serving hypocrisy” of George W Bush’s administration over the Middle East.

The mea culpa is contained in a shockingly frank “strategic communications” report, written this autumn by the Defence Science Board for Pentagon supremo Donald Rumsfeld.

On “the war of ideas or the struggle for hearts and minds”, the report says, “American efforts have not only failed, they may also have achieved the opposite of what they intended”.

“American direct intervention in the Muslim world has paradoxically elevated the stature of, and support for, radical Islamists, while diminishing support for the United States to single digits in some Arab societies.”

Referring to the repeated mantra from the White House that those who oppose the US in the Middle East “hate our freedoms”, the report says: “Muslims do not ‘hate our freedoms’, but rather, they hate our policies. The overwhelming majority voice their objections to what they see as one-sided support in favour of Israel and against Palestinian rights, and the long-standing, even increasing support, for what Muslims collectively see as tyrannies, most notably Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Pakistan and the Gulf states.

“Thus when American public diplomacy talks about bringing democracy to Islamic societies, this is seen as no more than self-serving hypo crisy. Moreover, saying that ‘freedom is the future of the Middle East’ is seen as patronising … in the eyes of Muslims, the American occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq has not led to democracy there, but only more chaos and suffering. US actions appear in contrast to be motivated by ulterior motives, and deliberately controlled in order to best serve American national interests at the expense of truly Muslim self-determination.”

The way America has handled itself since September 11 has played straight into the hands of al-Qaeda, the report adds. “American actions have elevated the authority of the jihadi insurgents and tended to ratify their legitimacy among Muslims.” The result is that al-Qaeda has gone from being a marginal movement to having support across the entire Muslim world.

“Muslims see Americans as strangely narcissistic,” the report goes on, adding that to the Arab world the war is “no more than an extension of American domestic politics”. The US has zero credibility among Muslims which means that “whatever Americans do and say only serves … the enemy”.

The report says that the US is now engaged in a “global and generational struggle of ideas” which it is rapidly losing. In order to reverse the trend, the US must make “strategic communication” – which includes the dissemination of propaganda and the running of military psychological operations – an integral part of national security. The document says that “Presidential leadership” is needed in this “ideas war” and warns against “arrogance, opportunism and double standards”.

“We face a war on terrorism,” the report says, “intensified conflict with Islam, and insurgency in Iraq. Worldwide anger and discontent are directed at America’s tarnished credibility and ways the US pursues its goals. There is a consensus that America’s power to persuade is in a state of crisis.” More than 90% of the populations of some Muslims countries, such as Saudi Arabia, are opposed to US policies.

“The war has increased mistrust of America in Europe,” the report adds, “weakened support for the war on terrorism and undermined US credibility worldwide.” This, in turn, poses an increased threat to US national security.

America’s “image problem”, the report authors suggest, is “linked to perceptions of the US as arrogant, hypocritical and self-indulgent”. The White House “has paid little attention” to the problems.

The report calls for a huge boost in spending on propaganda efforts as war policies “will not succeed unless they are communicated to global domestic audiences in ways that are credible”.

American rhetoric which equates the war on terror as a cold-war-style battle against “totalitarian evil” is also slapped down by the report. Muslims see what is happening as a “history-shaking movement of Islamic restoration … a renewal of the Muslim world …(which) has taken form through many variant movements, both moderate and militant, with many millions of adherents – of which radical fighters are only a small part”.

Rather than supporting tyranny, most Muslim want to overthrow tyrannical regimes like Saudi Arabia. “The US finds itself in the strategically awkward – and potentially dangerous – situation of being the long-standing prop and alliance partner of these authoritarian regimes. Without the US, these regimes could not survive,” the report says.

“Thus the US has strongly taken sides in a desperate struggle … US policies and actions are increasingly seen by the overwhelming majority of Muslims as a threat to the survival of Islam itself … Americans have inserted themselves into this intra-Islamic struggle in ways that have made us an enemy to most Muslims.

“There is no yearning-to- be-liberated-by-the-US groundswell among Muslim societies … The perception of intimate US support of tyr-annies in the Muslim world is perhaps the critical vulnerability in American strategy. It strongly undercuts our message, while strongly promoting that of the enemy.”

The report says that, in terms of the “information war”, “at this moment it is the enemy that has the advantage”. The US propaganda drive has to focus on “separating the vast majority of non-violent Muslims from the radical- militant Islamist-Jihadist”.

According to the report, “the official take on the target audience [the Muslim world] has been gloriously simple” and divided the Middle East into “good” and “bad Muslims”.

“Americans are convinced that the US is a benevolent ‘superpower’ that elevates values emphasising freedom … deep down we assume that everyone should naturally support our policies. Yet the world of Islam – by overwhelming majorities at this time – sees things differently. Muslims see American policies as inimical to their values, American rhetoric about freedom and democracy as hypocritical and American actions as deeply threatening.

“In two years the jihadi message – that strongly attacks American values – is being accepted by more moderate and non-violent Muslims. This in turn implies that negative opinion of the US has not yet bottomed out

Equally important, the report says, is “to renew European attitudes towards America” which have also been severely damaged since September 11, 2001. As “al-Qaeda constantly outflanks the US in the war of information”, American has to adopt more sophisticated propaganda techniques, such as targeting secularists in the Muslim world – including writers, artists and singers – and getting US private sector media and marketing professionals involved in disseminating messages to Muslims with a pro-US “brand”.

The Pentagon report also calls for the establishment of a national security adviser for strategic communications, and a massive boost in funding for the “information war” to boost US government TV and radio stations broadcasting in the Middle East.

The importance of the need to quickly establish a propaganda advantage is underscored by a document attached to the Pentagon report from Paul Wolfowitz, the deputy defence secretary, dated May.

It says: “Our military expeditions to Afghanistan and Iraq are unlikely to be the last such excursion in the global war on terrorism.”

http://www.sundayherald.com/46389
Other sites reporting this story: http://news.google.com/news?hl=en&ned=ca&q=pentagon+report&btnG=Search+News

Solnac

on Dec 07, 2004

If you would take the time, I'd be interested in hearing your view, were you say National Security adviser to Pres. Bush, on how to handle the present situation in Fallujah, and in Iraq in general.

Wow. I've never been asked how I'd handle it. My first, personal reaction would be this: "How are we going to leave Iraq?" "In boats." That's a paraphrase said around Vietnam, and it's true today. At this point, seeing this as a failed project would almost be preferable in some way. However, that's almost evading the question, and I don't want to do that, considering that's an excellent question.

First, I would of had the soldiers ask the refugees questions of if there was anyone well respected in the city that everyone knew. What did the city need more of? What was the production of the city like? Questions that would establish how day to day life was in the city, county, whatever. The people will know these questions: they've lived there every day of their lives. Then I'd advise the president (and you probably think I'm nuts, but I don't care) to have the troops not only guard the city, train people to guard the city, but to chip in and join in the rebuilding of the city. I'd recommend hitting construction companies up for extra benefits if some of their workers would be willing to be builder/soldiers in Iraq. Pay a little bit more, sign up bonus, whole nine yards. Get that guy we mentioned eariler--the one everyone knows and respects to be interrim mayor/ambassdor.

Acutally, that'd be second. First, I'd send our troops to school. Part of the problem is culture shock--we live by a different set of rules then the culture we're trying to liberate. Have them learn Arabic. Teach the basic precepts of Islam and the sects we're dealing with. Play by those rules. I know it's a little late for this, but if we could learn to understand instead of making them conform, I think they'd at the least resent us less. Or appeciate the effort. I'd also pay our troops a lot more--but that's a different story. I personally think we made a mess, we need to figure out how we're going to clean it up. Then, after we've got the buildings reestablished and things under control and people can resume their lives, are reminded of what 'normal' was like...hold elections. This is a few years down the road. People want to have their lives back, they're not going to take an interest in fledging politics until that's done.

Then I'd honestly ask, "Mr. President...what the hell is Halliburtion doing there?" It doesn't help that we're already contracting oil out. We should be asking, "Hey, can you help us rebuild a school that got hit by a bomb?" "Hey, this mosque is missing a wall..."
I understand companies have a bottom line, but give them tax breaks if they meaningfully get in there and get their hands dirty.

There's a small amount of things I've been thinking about.

Then again, I'm a blogger and a liberal...I can sense the mocking now, and in my own defense, what the hell do I know?

hitparade

on Dec 07, 2004

No mocking, here, and I do appreciate you comments. I would only add that much of what you suggest was the responsibility of the CIA.
Whereas it successfully used its prior contacts with mujahideen fighters, war lords, dope smugglers, etc. in Afgahistan, it relied on the representations of a powerless, nobody, in assessing Iraq. It should have been gathering Intel from several criminal groups based in Syria, which apparently is now occurring.

kingbee

on Dec 07, 2004

the responsibility of the CIA.
Whereas it successfully used its prior contacts with mujahideen fighters, war lords, dope smugglers, etc. in Afgahistan, it relied on the representations of a powerless, nobody, in assessing Iraq

the cia has largely succeeded only at failing and if it werent for the fact of nearly 25 years of 'team b' filtering which was apparently adopted with ridiculous enthusiasm by the current administration and expanded into actual 'team b' warcraft, id be much more likely to agree with you. only chalabi wasnt so much the cia's man as he was the administration's and his patrons were some of the very people who were selected by ghwbush for the original 'team b'. the cia's biggest screwup was letting itself become too obvious a scapegoat.

(i agree the exception to the cia's seeming inability to do well on anything worth doing is the afghan revolt against the ussr and even there they screwed up by succeeding beyond their wildest dreams as well as their grasp. they gave charlie wilson the wheel and when mr toad's wild ride ended and they were handed the mop, they immediately reverted to form and screwed that up.)

without even a seque with which to gracefully digress, how familiar are you with the adventures of the late carlos marcello?

Solnac

on Dec 07, 2004

No mocking, here, and I do appreciate you comments. I would only add that much of what you suggest was the responsibility of the CIA.

*strained laughter* Was being the operative word in that sentence. Our troops have to deal with it now. Hence we might try to make them diplomats versus aggressors.

It should have been gathering Intel from several criminal groups based in Syria, which apparently is now occurring.

Not to mock you, hitparade, I feel your comments are valid, but I present to you, ladies and gentlemen, in that quote, the precise reason why 9/11 and the Iraq war exist.

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