On the Demos "internationalization" theme
Posted by Peter W. Schramm
Andrew Sullivan considers--and discards--Dean’s and Hillary’s foreign policy speeches and this whole theme of "internationalization." The Demos think that this is the way to 1) criticize Bush on Iraq, yet, 2) seem as though they are not for getting out of Iraq. It’s not going to work. It’s a weird abstraction.
8:14 AM / December 17, 2003
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..or maybe 3) they actually think internationalization would increase the peace. Internationalizing the occupation and rebuilding might actually lend some credibility to the invasion. Though there will always be hardcore fanatics, perhaps the borderline insurgents would be less likely to take up arms against occupiers if they were representative of the will of the greater world, and not just one or two ambitious nations. Perhaps even letting other nations compete for just the chance to win a rebuilding contract could sway some of the opinion that the U.S. is hell-bent on conquering and plundering.
Are you assuming that the insurgents are protesting by exploding carbombs because they really are angry at the U.S. for not internationalizing the temporary occupation? Maybe they just hate those who removed the thugs from power. Maybe Osama & his gang hate us simply because we are westerners, not because of anything that we have done
besides live free and help others to do so.
I don’t think the sole reason for their hate is the non-internationalization of the conflict. I just think it would help if the U.S., viewed by many in the region as "the Great Satan", would take strides to at least put forward the appearance of this being a more global effort, and not just the oppressive will of the United States.
I personally don’t think Osame&Gang hate the U.S. just because they are westerners or they live free. I think they hate the U.S. because they feel their culture and religion threatened by the influence of the U.S. and other Western nations. Does that mean the attacks on the U.S. were just? I don’t think so. But I don’t think it was just lashing out because some people halfway around the world are living free. He may be aware of what’s going on throughout the world, but I think his primary concern is local and the culture he feels is being invaded.
I don’t think Osame&Gang can necessarily be painted with the same brush as what’s going on in Iraq. Osama&Gang seem to be religious fanatics, opposing cultural invasion and U.S. soft power. The feeling I get from the media is that the Iraq situation is more nationalistic. Both probably result in the same outward hatred of the U.S. (and could provide motive for them to bind together against the U.S.), but the original reasons for the hatred just seem different to me. Just my two cents.