about Iraq
There was a programme on TV - in the format of a trial - debating whether America was morally right to use the first strike against Iraq. About half the audience was flown in from St Louis. The final result was that 56% of the British audience felt that America was morally wrong to use first strike - ie attack Iraq - against 44% who felt that America had a case.
What surprised me was the shock of many of the Americans - that many of the speakers and many of the audience were not 100% behind Bush - or had an anti-American viewpoint.
In the first place why should Americans care what others think. Being English - I am aware of there being a lot of antagonism towards us - I've met this in Israel and I am aware that this anti - English feeling in America - by the Irish community - funding the IRA - who were trying to kill me - I do take bombs personally when they go off - where I might go - even though - ironically - I probably have stronger Irish roots than many of the Americans doing the funding. It is part of the problem of being number one - which Britain was - up to about the end of the Second World War.
One woman got angry that people didn't like America even though - America gives a lot of aid. What does she expect? - the West - and I include Europe - are shafting - most of the developing world - by blockades and by our corporations - and buy encouraging corruption. Most aid is tied to some sort of deal - which usually helps political sponsors.
Americans have to understand that if America attacks Iraq - and I don't see Bush stopping now - then America is going to be hated. The actions of what I call 'Imperial America' causes a lot of problems in the world - backing of dictators - corruption - trade barriers and sponsoring of people like bin Laden and Saddam - both of whom have received many millions of dollars in support.
The 'Axis of Evil' speech and the talk of a 'crusade' have caused instability in the region - for example in Iran - which voted for a moderate government - but is now having to be very careful in how it handles the religious leaders - it has caused the problems in North Korea - which was starting to negotiate with South Korea - but which looks like it will in reality - put nuclear weapons and missiles in the hands of some very unpleasant people - the speech has played into the hands of the fundamentalists in Egypt and Turkey - and could cause Saudi Arabia - to collapse into an even more fundamentalist area - with the problems of oil supply.
Unfortunately the price of being number one - is - not to be liked. Getting angry with people that don't like you - causes them to dislike you even more. Sadly America and Americans often tend to over react to the militiants - let them shout - let them rant - don't put on sanctions - just quietly trade in the background - consumer goods - improvements in health - and particularly music and films - will gradually build a middle class - and the hot heads would dies away - or more likey become the wheeler dealers - and be sending their kids to Harvard Business School.
Look at Cuba - if there were no sanctions - and just quiet trading - Fidel - would have gradually lost power - and Americans would be enjoying - legally - holidays and cigars - and Cubans would be enjoying a higher standard of living.
Finally I have to say the proposed war in Iraq is wrong. American and British planes were monitoring the country. Saddam was effectively neutralised - and although a total bastard - he couldn't risk another incident like his attack on Kuwait - as he knew what he would get. He won't supply weapons to Al Qaeda as he is even more frightened of the fundamentalists than we are. The war will kill tens of thousands of Iraqis through starvation and many more through bombing.
It will also kill many Americans - and British - and the war will not be as straightforward as Afghanistan - there will be urban warfare - and that will be costly in troops and the killing of innocent civilians.
What surprised me was the shock of many of the Americans - that many of the speakers and many of the audience were not 100% behind Bush - or had an anti-American viewpoint.
In the first place why should Americans care what others think. Being English - I am aware of there being a lot of antagonism towards us - I've met this in Israel and I am aware that this anti - English feeling in America - by the Irish community - funding the IRA - who were trying to kill me - I do take bombs personally when they go off - where I might go - even though - ironically - I probably have stronger Irish roots than many of the Americans doing the funding. It is part of the problem of being number one - which Britain was - up to about the end of the Second World War.
One woman got angry that people didn't like America even though - America gives a lot of aid. What does she expect? - the West - and I include Europe - are shafting - most of the developing world - by blockades and by our corporations - and buy encouraging corruption. Most aid is tied to some sort of deal - which usually helps political sponsors.
Americans have to understand that if America attacks Iraq - and I don't see Bush stopping now - then America is going to be hated. The actions of what I call 'Imperial America' causes a lot of problems in the world - backing of dictators - corruption - trade barriers and sponsoring of people like bin Laden and Saddam - both of whom have received many millions of dollars in support.
The 'Axis of Evil' speech and the talk of a 'crusade' have caused instability in the region - for example in Iran - which voted for a moderate government - but is now having to be very careful in how it handles the religious leaders - it has caused the problems in North Korea - which was starting to negotiate with South Korea - but which looks like it will in reality - put nuclear weapons and missiles in the hands of some very unpleasant people - the speech has played into the hands of the fundamentalists in Egypt and Turkey - and could cause Saudi Arabia - to collapse into an even more fundamentalist area - with the problems of oil supply.
Unfortunately the price of being number one - is - not to be liked. Getting angry with people that don't like you - causes them to dislike you even more. Sadly America and Americans often tend to over react to the militiants - let them shout - let them rant - don't put on sanctions - just quietly trade in the background - consumer goods - improvements in health - and particularly music and films - will gradually build a middle class - and the hot heads would dies away - or more likey become the wheeler dealers - and be sending their kids to Harvard Business School.
Look at Cuba - if there were no sanctions - and just quiet trading - Fidel - would have gradually lost power - and Americans would be enjoying - legally - holidays and cigars - and Cubans would be enjoying a higher standard of living.
Finally I have to say the proposed war in Iraq is wrong. American and British planes were monitoring the country. Saddam was effectively neutralised - and although a total bastard - he couldn't risk another incident like his attack on Kuwait - as he knew what he would get. He won't supply weapons to Al Qaeda as he is even more frightened of the fundamentalists than we are. The war will kill tens of thousands of Iraqis through starvation and many more through bombing.
It will also kill many Americans - and British - and the war will not be as straightforward as Afghanistan - there will be urban warfare - and that will be costly in troops and the killing of innocent civilians.
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