Tag: international

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politics

The Iraqi Constitution

I have been very interested to hear about the progress on the Iraqi constitution. Naturally most of the commentary was about how bad the constitution was and how it was a step backwards for the US. I keep hearing about a new Iran. Finally I read this article where there was something positive to say. I grant that David Brooks is one of the people who is more likely to agree with the president, but I have to agree with much of what he says because I had recognized the reality of the following quotes back when I reviewed No God but GOD:

“The Bush administration finally did something right in brokering this constitution,” Galbraith exclaimed, then added: “This is the only possible deal that can bring stability. … I do believe it might save the country.”

Galbraith’s argument is that the constitution reflects the reality of the nation it is meant to serve.

What’s important, Gerecht has emphasized, is the democratic process: setting up a system in which the different groups, secular and clerical, will have to bargain with one another, campaign and deal with the real-world consequences of their ideas. This is what’s going to moderate them and lead to progress. This constitution does that. Shutting them out would lead to war.

The men being quoted here by Brooks are Peter W. Galbraith, a former United States ambassador to Croatia and Reuel Marc Gerecht, formerly of the C.I.A. and now at the American Enterprise Institute.

I make no claim of special understanding regarding the Iraqi people or this draft of a constitution but we must have a constitution that fits the people that it is intended to govern. If these men that Brooks has quoted are right about the Iraqis and this constitution than I have to conclude that it is a good thing. If our American values see it as too much like Iran perhaps we would do well to remember that the Iraqis are much more like their Iranian neighbors than they are like us Americans from halfway across the world and that’s just fine with me. If we are attempting to remake them in our image then we should not be there in the first place because it will never happen.

Categories
politics

No god but God

No God but GOD

I have been trying to learn more about Islam in an effort to sort out the truth from the fiction that is reported in conjunction with the war on terror and other similar realities of our day. As a part of that goal I recently picked up No god but God by Reza Aslan, an Iranian born and American educated Muslim scholar. I was well rewarded. This book is a must read for anyone trying to understand the religion that operates in the areas of the Middle East that have suddenly become so prominent in American politics. Not only did I come to a more complete understanding of Islam, but I came to a better understanding of faith, religion, society and America as well.

Aslan explains the difference between faith and religion and helps the reader understand the culture and history of pre-Islamic Arabia before trying to relate the rise of Islam with Muhammed and the changes that brought to the Arab culture of the area. The reader then learns how the challenges arising from the death of Muhammed eventually lead to the various movements in Islam such as Shi’ism, Sufism and Wahhabism.

After reading this book there was no more question in my mind as to why so much strife exists between the Shi’ites and the Sunnis as the Iraqis try to rebuild their country. In the struggle between the west and the people of Iraq in defining democracy in that country, Aslan helps differentiate between secularism and pluralism. With that distinction we may have less fear of letting the Iraqis set up democracy in a way that represents their culture rather than our own.

Representative democracy may be the greatest social and political experiment in the history of the world. But it is an ever-evolving experiment. These days there is a tendancy to regard American democracy as the model for all the world’s democracies, and in some ways this is true. The seeds of democracy may have been sown in ancient Greece, but it is in American soil that they sprouted and flourished. Yet precisely for this reason, only in America is American democracy possible; it cannot be isolated from American traditions and values.

Read No god but God to learn about the traditions and values that will shape the democracies that will make the world feel safe once again.

  • Title: No god but God: the Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam
  • Author: Reza Aslan
  • Publisher: Random House
  • ISBN: 1-4000-6213-6
Categories
politics

Courage of the Iraqis

To all appearances, today was a success in Iraq. As reported in the New York Times, the turnout in the Iraqi elections was solid – even exceeding expectations in some Sunni areas. David Anderson (another dead link from ISOU – archives/2005/01/bravery_and_det.html) also has a good commentary (as usual) on the elections.

It makes no difference if you supported or opposed the invasion of Iraq, unless you support anarchy you must hail the Iraqis for turning out to vote despite the vocal threats against voters.

Time will tell how successfully Iraq turns the corner towards democracy and freedom, but the turnout at the polls today is one positive indicator.

Categories
National politics

The Fastest Way Out

I drive around the city and see a smattering of yard signs saying “Bring the troops home now.” I feel that those who post the signs do not care about the welfare of the Iraqis. No matter how bad their lives are now with insurgents, the worst course of action we could take would be to walk away right now. After reading Friedman’s “Pop-Tarts or Freedom?” I had an interesting thought about those who display those signs. Undoubtedly those who post the signs disagree with the Bush administration regarding the war in Iraq. Friedman suggests that the fastest way to get the troops home is to hold elections. If people believe that then these people who don’t support the administration would have to support the stance of the administration in not postponing the Iraqi elections.

Categories
National politics

Bad Logic

I know I’m a little late blogging about this because I have been at a conference this week, but . . .

I have been hearing this argument that Sadaam was not a threat to us because Sadaam and Al Qaeda were enemies. It just makes me sick that people can use such poor logic as the basis for their public arguments. Even if they have better reasons for opposing the war, they put forth the nice sound bite that proves nothing about whether Sadaam was a threat. “The enemy of my enemy is my friend” has never been more obviously false. The fact that Sadaam and Al Qaeda were enemies does nothing to make either one of them a friend to the United States.