This is another argument that people just aren't likely to get. "You'd think they'd be quite happy to be rid of Saddam"? Why? Because America said he was bad? Take away the backroom polotics and Hussein was looked upon highly in the Arab world for the most part. To me this train of thought is similar to that which Americans use in Cuba. They can't wait for the "hated" Castro to die, so Cuba can be liberated. Liberated in whose eyes? Did anyone bother to ask Cubans if they feel that they need liberating? It seems to me that if Cubans were not happy with Castro (a leader the people love) they would have done something about it by now. Its not like the Americans have not been trying to undeed the "dictator" for almost half a century. Same thing goes in Iraq. The Americans appealed to the people to unseat Saddam, but they did nothing. Maybe the average joe on the street didn't want change? Maybe they were used to living under what westerners considered a tyrant? Just because the US says the people should be liberated does not make it right.
Personally I'm starting to see the Arab side of the story. I don't really agree with the way they live, but they do have that right. This is something lost on a lot of westerners. They have a certain belief structure that we don't understand because if clashes with the one that we were raised on and learned to believe in. They have been raised to believe their social structure and lifestyle is right, so who are we to say they are wrong and force our ways on them. We aren't and shouldn't. Just because you wish to trade with someone does not mean you should enforce your culture and ways on them. You should certainly not go in and conquer their country because you think their leader is a tyrant. But that is the way of some nations. I think that the US is wrong for their foreign policy and the people of Iraq have every right to feel the way they do. How would Canadians feel if France invaded Canada because they felt Martin was a tyrant? Bitter? Just a bit IMO.
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