How to win enemies
... and alienate friends?
July 1, 2004
iranian.com
It seems that, in the early phase of war on Iraq, the Pentagon planners
and their cheer-leaders in the main stream media used the phrase
"Shock and Awe" prematurely.
The entire world is now in "Shock and Awe" over the despicable video
images of an American being beheaded and those abhorrent photos of Iraqi prisoner
abuses by U.S. soldiers at the notorious Saddam Hussein's notorious Abu
Ghraib prison. The so-called liberators of Iraq have made a mockery of freedom,
democracy, international law, human rights, and justice.
The post 9-11 period has been emotionally depressing and has become
even more stressful as the Israeli-Palestinian tragedy continues
and atrocities of war
in Afghanistan and Iraq unfold. The shocking mistreatment of Iraqi captives clashes
with what President George W. Bush and his team have repeatedly promised to the
Afghanis, Iraqis, and the world: to root out terrorism, demolish the outlaw groups
and their resources, turn Iraq and Afghanistan into model democracies in the
Middle East, promote and uphold human rights, and make America and the rest of
the world safe. Not surprisingly, the administration's unrealistic dreams
have turned into real nightmares.
We live in an age of hypocrisy and contradictions in which truth and logical
reasoning has been replaced by mendacity and illogic. Remember the false premises
used by Tony Blair and George W. Bush prior to their invasion of Iraq? Those
arguments held that Saddam possessed, without any doubt, an arsenal of weapons
of mass destruction, that he was the most dangerous terrorist in the world, and
had ties with Al-Qaeda.
From the initial US-UK military bombardment of Iraq to
the latest military abuses of Abu Ghraib prisoners, the war on Iraq has proven
to be an intellectual, political, moral, and cultural catastrophe. Based on
mounting anti-Americanisms, tensions, killings, revenge, and continued
destructions in
Iraq, America and the world now appear to be less safe than ever before.
As revealed in several opinion polls, the U.S. image around the
world is currently at its lowest level, especially among the
Arab nations and Moslems. The pre-emptive
war on Iraq has not only alienated friends and won more enemies for America,
but has made it much easier for outlaw groups to recruit new members. The U.S.
is contributing to the malevolent efforts of such groups by providing them
needed fuel, free publicity, an array of convincing reasons,
and opportunities for attracting
deeply committed new fighters. The US has done this by:
1. Abusing the Abu Ghraib prisoners and humiliating men and women
in scenes that are depicted in pornographic media (a highly un-Islamic
and forbidden act),
2. Insulting the cultural and moral sensitivities of Moslems around the world,
3. Invading Moslem homes and terrifying women, children and the elderly,
4. Storming into homes with their boots in a culture that does not permit anyone
to enter a holy place or home with street shoes,
5. Pressing their boots on the chests or heads of arrested Iraqis which is
culturally, the most insulting act,
6. Searching women and girls in a culture in which females are expected to
cover themselves from the eyes of strangers,
7. Entering mosques and holy places, with boots and rifles, when non-believers
are not normally even permitted to enter, and
8. Ignoring International laws, including the Geneva Convention on handling
prisoners of war.
In an interview with Arab TV satellite channels, on May 5, 2004,
President Bush said that the treatment of Iraqi prisoners by
some members of the U.S. troops
was "abhorrent" and the people of Iraq "must understand that
what took place in that prison does not represent the America that I know." I
concur with his remarks and add that the despicable and inhumane beheading of
an American by a fringe group does not represent (nor is condoned by) the majority
of Moslems, Arabs, and Middle Easterners in general.
Likewise, the September
11, 2001, terrorist attacks on America does not represent the views and
sentiments of 1.3-billion Moslems in the world. It is quite ironic and very
sad that many people, including the mass media, often generalize
the actions of a
fringe minority to an entire population.
In the final analysis, action always speaks louder than words. Hence, the
photos of "peace keepers" and "liberators" deliberately
and methodically abusing and torturing Iraqi prisoners shatter any hope for a
safer future and a democratic Iraq. Hypocrisy won't bring democracy. What
President Bush claims and what has so far happened in Iraq are contradictory.
By the way, no comparison should be made between the actions
of the outlaw groups who do not stand for "freedom," "democracy," "rule
of law," and "human rights," and the only superpower of the
world that stands for those ideals and is expected to uphold the essence of its
constitution and the highest regard for individual dignity and equality. You
cannot expect an outlaw group acts like a state and no state should act like
an outlaw. America is wounded and its global image seriously damaged.
But it
is not too late for this great nation to correct its course of action and,
once again, apply Dale Carnegie's principles of "how to win friends and
influence people," rather than the current and damaging principles of "how
to win enemies and alienate friends." The world is in dire need of
a genuine and humane role model. America is on the world stage and its every
movement is under constant scrutiny by billions of tearful and hopeful eyes.
History has proven that it is impossible to win the battle for the "hearts
and minds" of any people by force. Submission through force is not certainly
the same as submission through good will.
 It is also time to restore the credibility of the United Nations.
It is time for the wounded American eagle to swallow its
pride (as it did in Vietnam and
Somalia), return home to recoup and reassess its vision, revise its "new
world order" strategy, and take a more realistic look at the complexities
of our world. It is time for the US politicians to realize that their dreams
of achieving global hegemony by military force, fighting terrorism with terror,
creating a safe global environment, and exporting democracy are easier said
than done. It is time to let the Iraqis, under the UN auspices, determine
the future
of Iraq. Self-determination is the best gift that the US can give to the
Iraqi people.
Author
Yahya R. Kamalipour, PhD, is professor of mass communication
and head of the Department of Communication and Creative Arts,
Purdue
University Calumet, Hammond, Indiana. He is editor of the book,
Global
Communication (Wadsworth, 2002) and editor-in-chief of
Global Media
Journal. His most recent book -- War,
Media, and Propaganda -- will be released in this month by
Rowman & Littlefield. Personal web site: kamalipour.com.
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