XPost: alt.religion.islam, soc.culture.iraq, soc.culture.german   
   XPost: soc.culture.french   
   From: hendrik.bendt@web.de   
      
   to werner.   
   you replied to two articles in one message, which might be confusing to   
   someone...   
      
   so at least we agree in some points. I hope I will not lose my optimistic   
   view of the subject, as you unfortunaltely have lost it a little. which I   
   can understand too. there's many perspectives to see the problem from.   
      
   it's is delighting to get some feedback from people that at least can write   
   and have made up their minds. that's a better basis for discussions, thanks.   
      
   about the terrorist threat: I was referring to the 'global threat of Islamic   
   terror', mentioned by Mr. Departement. A global threat to me would mean that   
   wherever you go in the world, you would have to fear getting killed by   
   Islamic terrorist actions. That is not the situation, is it?   
      
   > > and also in the way the US Army is acting in Iraq.  Many American   
   soldiers   
   > > do not show enough respect for the Iraqi people.  They don't see   
   muslims,   
   > > they see potential terrorists.   
   >   
   > ...and if you think anyone would/has done better, you are dreaming.   
   > Where've you got that information, what do you base that judgmental   
   > opinion on anyways?!?   
      
   well, I've read about Iraqis complaining about how they are treated by the   
   US soldiers (ecspecially in contrary to the Brits). breaking into a house,   
   putting a paper bag on the fathers head and pressing him to the floor may be   
   appropriate for other situations. but as a regular house-control it is not,   
   because the father loses his respect in front of his family (in their   
   culture this is a bigger deal than in ours (hope you're okay with the   
   'ours')).   
   also taking people to guantanamo for months and then sending them back like   
   'sorry guy, you seem to be okay.. no worries...' does not really help making   
   friends with Iraqis. also there's been too many   
   'first-shoot-then-ask-actions' where innocent Iraqis died. this kind of   
   stuff is a main reason even for pro-American Iraqis to change their minds.   
      
   so I DO think an international army, lead by the UN, would have had much   
   more acceptance and a better chance of getting the situation under control.   
   -peter   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)