What to do with Iraq .

By Stephen E.

Dear Ali Sina

I’ve been a regular reader of yours for the past 2 years and supported the invasion of Iraq .  Lately, however, I’ve come to see your current advice as undermining the hopes of peace in Iraq and the world.

What are the consequences of spending the next 2 years (as you imply we should) putting out all the flames of Iraqi opposition with force?

Most likely, the most radical resistance groups will unite to set the whole country aflame. Jihadis will come from around the world to fight. We will eventually be forced to hide out (like our allies) away from population centers.  The radicals will form a terrorist government, tossing out our allies and hard work.  The population will embrace them as legitimate. It will be much worse than Saddam.

Less likely, our casualties will climb into the thousands of tragic deaths while we may succeed in temporarily suppressing opposition groups.   Some groups will be strengthened as they wait their day to dominate.   Huge amounts of US money will be lost paying Halliburton and many right-wing contractors (and indirectly funding the Republicans). The Iraqis will grow to hate us just because we’re the ones in power.  Upon assuming power, the strong groups will demand we leave, cancel all of their debts to us, and bring in the French and Russians to harvest their oil for missiles.  Then their wars will begin.  

Now, here’s the result of your worst case scenario:  We withdraw in disgust this summer to the friendlier Southwest or Northeast of Iraq.  All the power centers in Iraq will start to squabble and try to settle old scores.  Battles will break out between Sunni and Shiite, and between different groups of Shiites.  As long as we can keep out Syria and Iran , and prevent one group from using oil money to obtain an advantage in weaponry, this will rage on for several years.  Muslim anger will turn at their own divisions and will be distracted from their war against Israel and America . Eventually they’ll all be so weakened that the US can step back in upon being invited by one of the groups.  At this point, we’ll be genuinely welcomed as saviors.

My grim assessments of Iraq’s future is based on a deep understanding of the psyche of the Muslim male that I’ve gained from extended contacts with young, Muslim men in my own life and through many web boards.

Here are the tenets of Islam according to the young Muslim men, supported by direct quotes of Mohammed:

1)   Submit your anger and hate to purposes of Allah.  As long as you do this, He will disregard your drinking, pornography, and messed up life.

2)   The world must be fundamentally divided into friend and kafir, Godly and of Satan.  Never form friendships with the kafir.

Let not the believers take for friends or helpers unbelievers rather than believers: if any do that, in nothing will there be help from Allah. Except by way of precaution, that ye may guard yourselves from them.  3:28

3)  Accepting help from non-believers is shameful and wrong. 

"O you who believe! Take not as (your) Bitnah (advisors, consultants, protectors, helpers, friends, etc.) those outside your religion since they will not fail to do their best to corrupt you. They desire to harm you severely. Hatred has already appeared from their mouths, but what their breasts conceal is far worse.  3:118

This explains why false rumors spread so easily.

4)  When not in power, strive to sabotage the efforts of the kafir, even if he is trying to help you.  Receive help, but never intend to pay it back.  Lie and go back on your word to weaken him.

Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war, to strike terror into (the hearts of) the enemies, of Allah and your enemies. 8:60

Lying and deception have esteemed places in Islam.  Mohammed commanded his followers to lie on many occasions to enable the assassination of his enemies leaders.  This is how he rose to power so fast.  The Prophet said: "fighting is (art of deceit)." (Ibn-E-Majah, Vol. 2, p. 182)

5)   When the kafir appears weak and divided, incite war and fight like a maniac, using any means to reach your goal.

"Don't be friends with disbelievers. They are your (and Allah's) enemy".(60:1)   "murder them and treat them harshly" (2:193), "fight and slay the Pagans, seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem" (9:5). 

6)  Here’s the hidden flaw of Islam: once the foreigners are out of the picture, muslims will turn on each other.  Sunnis and Shiites hate each other almost as much as they hate Jews and Satan.  Mohammed commanded that heretics be put to death.  Alternative interpretations of the Koran are not to be tolerated.   

Muslim rulers considered heretics have been traditionally attacked as “oppressors” and subject to this commandment:

Oppression is worse than murder. Do not fight them at the Sacred Masjid, unless they attack you therein. If they attack you, you may kill them. This is the just retribution for those disbelievers. 2:191

In conclusion, the best course of action is for the US to step aside and let several years of fratricidal warfare wipe out the jihadi fervor, as it did in Iran .  This will weaken the Sunni terrorist groups and the remaining Shiite thugs in Iran .  We will be able to step into Iraq and Iran unopposed.   If we stay on the course you propose, all the deaths of our young men will be in vain.  And you, in your position of public influence, will be responsible.