cktimes.ca Archives for East-West
East-West
Ten steps to Get a Bouquet of Flowers
Tuesday, September 5, 2006
Analysts now admit even in the US that Iraq is now on brink of a civil war. Hopefully all can also understand that democracy is much more than voting rights or even multiparty political games. Unfortunately many people including the advisors of Mr. Bush believed that democracy in Iraq meant ousting Saddam and bringing his opposition into power.
To me democracy is much more difficult than just multiparty politics, voting rights or even the existence of an opposition. While in Canada, I remember when the liberals ran the government of New Brunswick. There was not a single opposition member in the parliament. Was it not democracy? The answer was yes. So, none of the so-called and much discussed characteristics of democracy ensures democracy.
Democracy to me means tolerance and respect for views of the minorities. This cannot be brought in over night in a society. Take the case of India and Pakistan. Both have parliaments, elected members, and an elected PM. Which one is a true democracy? Here one might come up with an argument that democracy also passes through phases and Pakistan's democracy is in its childhood while the Indian one is a mature adult.
In the Iraqi case, I think all President Bush wanted was a bouquet of flowers from Iraqis for whom he has done so much. Here are the ten steps to get flowers.
First Mr. Bush gave Iraqis a "freedom" which they could never have without him. He thought the Iraqis would come out in millions to offer his soldiers flowers. Sadly the Iraqis did not come forward with flowers as the US Marines entered Baghdad. It must have been painful for Bush and his advisors.
Second. Mr. Bush rationalized it by saying that they (Iraqis) could not do so because Saddam was still at large! So after years of tyranny they are not sure whether Saddam is out of power or he will come back! What a slick argument! However, when Saddam was arrested flowers should have come! It did not come! I can imagine hair pulling and nail scratching inside the White House and the Pentagon.
Third, Mr. Bush thought that the Iraqis would definitely recognize his sincere effort to establish a free and a democratic Iraq when he apparently bulldozed a Constitution onto them and called an election. Mr. Bush was quick to give a lesson to the world. Ye see! We brought democracy in Iraq and they are gonna love It.! In fact, he started dreaming about democracy too! He wanted it to be exported in all Arab countries that did not understand democracy and freedom. But flowers did not come either.
Fourth, he realized that democracy in Iraq is not complete because even months after the election they did not have a Prime Minister! What a shame! The teachers of democracy school Mr. Bush and Mr. Blair went round and round to "fix" a PM for Iraq! After all the new democracy they did not understand how to elect a PM! So they intervened again as all teachers do to ensure that the Iraqis know how to find a PM! Bush wanted the flowers badly! Well even after naming the PM it did not come. Bush started asking questions to his advisors - Why!
Fifth, Mr. Bush now realized that Iran is the troublemaker. Flowers did not come because Iranian Shiites did not like Mr. Bush and in this muddy water they could be the troublemakers. We need to fix it. Why? Because Iraq must be a free and a democratic country and US president must have flowers! How to fix Iran? We'll use IAEA, Israel, UN Security Council, China, Russia, G7, G8, NATO, EU, etc. etc.
Sixth Mr. Bush also thought that Syria is not small either. Of course, Osama is there too! But the problem with Osama's team is that they grow like ants! You kill one leader, there is another one! He started working on the Iranians and also on the Syrians. This was easy - use the Lebanese and Israel and then ask Annan to do the talking - after all he is an old business partner! At the same time, he started pointing fingers further to the east. Musharraf - a useless fellow, Karzai, a sheep who even cannot control his own herd. What can he say! He has been in trouble everywhere! With all these troubles around and Afghan war reappearing he needed a scapegoat.
Seventh, analysts are now predicting Civil war, not a bouquet of flowers! He is really angry with all of them. These stupid fellows are making people confused every day. His mathematics was clear from day 1 - Saddam to go - Iraq is free and flowers to come. But the columnists, human rights activists, Germans and the French were the troublemakers. They should have been at least quiet! That is why flowers are not coming.
Eighth, his own citizens for whom he has spent so many sleepless nights [to give them an anxiety free life] are also angry! They are gradually shifting positions with anti-war people. Maybe Osama is now hiding in the US! Ah ha. That's it. That is why he (Mr. Bush) is in trouble. What can be done?
Ninth is the bomb threat. Yep that's the key to getting flowers! We must raise alarm bells among our people more frequently so that they do not forget that Osama is a real name, a real person with a real beard [but forget that he was trained by US]. How many bombs, sir? Must be a dozen threats at a time! This must continue every 30 days until the November election. Otherwise, my fellow Americans will forget the flowers too! I need flowers, man!
Tenth, maybe the US should withdraw from Iraq but where to put them! Mr. Bush has found a new source of flowers. It is not an Arab land as such but their rulers speak Arabic. It is linked with Osama and the land called Darfur. He needed a scapegoat to retreat. May be this time "flowers will shower!"
Throwing Bouquets of Flowers: We'll Never Hear That Again
By Philip Shaw M.Sc.
He is General Hossain Mohammad Ershad. He was the unelected Playboy Prime Minister of Bangladesh between 1983 and 1990. He loved flowers. In fact the saying goes when he was Prime Minister in Bangladesh the flower industry exploded. He had so many girlfriends, mistresses, hangers-on, he needed flowers on every corner. So when you go to Bangladesh, there are seemingly flowers for sale everywhere. Sadly, it was one of Ershad's most telling legacies.
So when I read Enamul's list how President Bush might get some flowers for all the American foreign policy transgressions, I thought of "Ershad." (as he is known in Bangladesh) If he was still President he certainly could have supplied Mr. Bush with the flowers.
If you read carefully Enamul's piece you'll see the wide chasm between East and West when it comes to American foreign policy. From my perspective much of Enamul's piece smacks of "Anti-Americanism". However, I know my friend. He is not anti-American. However, his views resonate throughout South Asia and the east. They are mainstream thoughts, which surely will trouble American policy makers as they fumble about trying to bring their form of democracy to Iraq and other troubled places. Waving the flag post 9/11 American style, it would seem has never been so difficult.
It is all so easy to look back on now. Five years ago 19 crazy hijackers forced aircraft down into buildings in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania. Five years later, we've had war in Afghanistan and now Iraq. Sabre rattling is taking place with Iran. I don't think the eastern world has ever understood how that day changed the United States forever.
Some would say it refocused "America". However, as a Canadian we don't refer to the United States as "America." So in short, five years ago on September 11th, the United States refocused its foreign policy. It sharpened its resolve to be never attacked again. The ultimate result of that has been a march through Asia Minor rooting out the seeds of terrorism. Unfortunately, for the rest of us, its success is still being measured. Democracy in places like Afghanistan and Iraq are the result of much of that.
Yes, there were no flowers along the way. For those of you in the East, Enamul's words must resonate. I can tell you here in North America there was a clear feeling among some that there would be flowers everywhere. An argument can be made that a few flowers were thrown in Afghanistan. Al Qaeda and their Taliban allies abused women and girls. Liberating some of these people from that tyranny certainly deserves flowers. What we have now in Afghanistan five years hence is much different.
Iraq on the other hand wasn't born of the same stuff. Some might argue that it was all about oil. Some might argue that it was America adventurism gone mad. Some might argue it was a logical step post 9/11 to rid that part of the world of a troublemaker. However, five years after 9/11 almost everybody can agree that things have gone wrong. Even Generals in the US Pentagon are now arguing that Iraq is on the verge of protracted sectarian civil war. Enamul would argue, "What happened to all those flowers?"
Well, it is a long and winding road. Five years ago after 9/11 Americans were toasted around the world. World sympathy for them was at a all time high. When they lashed out at Al Qaeda in Afghanistan the world watched and supported with anticipation.
Take Canada for instance. In the lead up to Afghanistan, Canada sent six naval ships, six air force planes, 2000 troops and some special forces. Five years later Canadians are being killed in Afghanistan. It all stemmed from 9/11. It all stemmed from 9/11 sympathy and support for our American friends.
So let's get real. The flowers thing had to do with some American special intelligence, which mused about American troops being greeted with flowers. People would be so happy to get rid of Saddam. Clearly this intelligence was wrong. But the Americans don't hold a monopoly on mistakes. How about Saddam musing about "the mother of all battles." Coalition forces subsequently soundly beat him. It was all about rhetoric. Simply put rhetoric is just that. However, it can lead to war and the Iraq war is a good example of that.
American foreign policy will continue to dominate the world for years to come. Just by its nature it will surely affect some people negatively as Enamul describes vividly in his piece. The challenge for the US is to re-focus and re-capture that post 9/11 goodwill. Will there be flowers again? Who knows? Something tells me we'll never hear about that again.
East/West is a joint column written by A.K. Enamul Haque and Philip Shaw. Dr. A.K.Enamul Haque Ph.D, is a Professor of Economics at United International University. Philip Shaw M.Sc. is farmer, writer and broadcaster in Dresden, Ontario, Canada. Each month they will bring their uniquely East/West perspectives to specific topics of world interest.
