US vs Arab World: Truth & Reconciliation

[ulTRAX]

Bush fights the war on terror as if there's a set number of terrorists and for each on killed or captured, there's one less. This is nonsense. Aside from legitimate issues of self-defense, the war has to be against the dynamic that creates more terrorists. After all, it's not WMDs that are the threat, it's the will to use them. And if the hatred is that great, terrorists will improvise as they did on 911. Since Bush has deluded himself into believing we have a monopoly on virtue, he's blind to how our policies the past 50 years have contributed to this dynamic. In doing so he perpetuates this dynamic deluding himself that he's liberating the world. Bush has added secular Ba'athists and Iraqi nationalists to the list of people wanting to kill Americans.

At some point, the US has to have an honest dialog with the Arab world. I'm reminded of the Truth & Reconciliation process that took place in South Africa. We have to openly admit we have done despicable things in the mid-east. We've taken our "need" for their oil as permission to install murderous regimes that would protect that oil from the Soviets. We preferred our own citizens lived the life of Riley by all too often repressing the similar aspirations of others in the world. I honestly believe we owe reparations.

This policy is, of course, politically impossible. Bush, deluded that he's doing God's work, lacks the conscience to see the obvious. Yet I see this process as necessary. It's unfortunate that Kerry's policies on the war weren't more coherent and offered a common sense alternative to Bush's madness.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

1. Good idea. We could use a T&R, or several, here, too.

Fat chance though. "Support Our Troops" makes better soundbites for politicians at conventions.

That aside. I'd love to see Truth & Reconciliation Commissions set up to deal with racism in this country and similar to deal with any number of countries where we set up dictators and aided death squads.

[sweetheart]

2. Perhaps just going ahead

with such an idea, might be quite an excellent documentary. I'm sure
there are some retired CIA, FBI and other people who would contribute
towards a T&R sort of process. If americans saw a short documentary
of the process, likely there would be call for more.