American Foreign Policy is and has always been driven by special interest groups. This is not anything new and is not likely to change in the near future. In the 1960s special interest groups were able to create “The Viet Nam Saga”. The excuses then were, “Communists, Chinese and Russians”. The excuses now are, “Saddam Hussein regime, Weapons of Mass Destruction, Lack of Democracy”. The Americas pulled out of Viet Nam in shame and disgrace but declared victory to make it look palatable to the American masses at home. Now, the whole process will be repeating in Iraq. (My prediction)
There are many special interest groups in each and every country. They have useful functions in society. However, when these special interest groups are able to use their power to manipulate foreign policies of a major power then something needs to be done about it. This type of behavior is pathological i.e. like a cancer. Doing something or anything is not easy. First, the power concerned needs to be able to recognize that a problem exists. This is not likely to happen because America does not see anything wrong with its foreign policy. The scenario is not unlike a depressed person. The depressed person does not see that he/she is depressed even though every one else sees it (the depressed look). So it is not likely that American Foreign Policy will change in the near future.
To obtain a greater understanding of this point of view please see:
Face of Depression
Depression Two
Face of Depression Three
Picture: A Depressed President Bush. Failed foreign policies.
During the 1970s the fear of Communism took priority over all else. Human Rights and Human dignity were violated by both the Pro-communist lobby (mainly Russia, China and Cuba) and the American Armed Forces in the name of Democracy. Washington could not see that the entire country side was sympathetic toward the Viet Cong and the Communists. They were content with occupying their bases in big cities. Now too the Americans are not seeing that. Somehow, other countries and other people saw it then and are seeing it. Many countries that joined the war against “Weapons of Mass Destruction/ Saddam Hussein Regime/Lack of Democracy” have pulled out of the Coalition. Mr. Bush still does not see any error in his ways or any error in American Foreign Policy. Senator McCain actually says that The War CAN be won.
American Public opinion is against the war. British Public opinion is against the war. The writing is on the wall. It has been a long time since the Republicans won any seats but they still do not get the message. Lobbying of Senators and Congressmen must be stopped to give American foreign policy a fair chance at success. Some would argue that the opponents of special interest groups should form their own lobby and advance their point of view.
In the 1960s special interest groups including many US presidents were convinced that “the Communists” had to be stopped at all costs. American, British, and French might was not able to stop Communism. Yes, communism did fall eventually. Many groups and individuals in America would like to take credit for the fall of communism. However, I do not feel that any special person or group deserves any credit for the fall of communism, not even President Ronald Regan who is credited with ending the “Cold War”. I strongly feel that ordinary people were responsible for the demise of communism. The ordinary people of Viet Nam were responsible for the demise of America in Viet Nam. My prediction is the same for American Forces in Iraq. America is winning the big cities, the bases and the Green Zones. It is losing the hearts and souls of ordinary people. Eventually it is the ordinary people who will decide the outcome.
America is an occupying force in Iraq. The American Government is trying to say that they have been invited there by a democratically elected government. Ordinary people know the truth. Eventually, they will decide. The Americans did the same in Viet Nam. Somehow, American Presidents always think that ordinary people do not have brains and that they can manipulate them through the use of Press Conferences and the Media.
Manipulation takes many forms. The use of salaried soldiers and then saying that they volunteered to fight in the Middle East is a highly refined form of manipulation. Yes, paid soldiers are highly trained to fight wars using highly technical techniques. In the past occupation of land was the main goal. The present reality is that minds have to won too. Otherwise the war will be lost. America is winning the war of real estate but is losing the hearts and soles of ordinary people. I am predicting that America will lose the war in Iraq because it has lost the “Hearts and Souls of Ordinary People”. The Ordinary People of Iraq are intelligent people. They do not have military might to force the American Forces out of Iraq but they have more commitment then the American Forces have to win. They will use all other means to drive them out - just like the Vietnamese / Communists because they were born there and had loyalty to the land. The paid soldier works for (more or less) eight hours then clocks off and counts his dollars. The Freedom fighter is dedicated 24 hours each day, does not get paid and does not clock off. He waits and strikes at the right moment. Time is always on his side. Loyalty does not come from a pledge or from a certificate of competence to kill or shoot.
