For my geography of the Middle East class we are required to read articles about the Middle East from the New York Times. A particular article caught my attention this morning.
Titled “Can you tell a Sunni From a Shiite?” by Jeff Stein. Link here. The article recounts Steins interviews with key members of the FBI and Congress. The report is not amusing; rather I find it quite sad. Since we pay and elect the members of Congress I believe they should know the details of the war in Iraq in which we are spending billions of dollars and losing American and foreign life daily. While he writes off the fact that many quickly could answer his question, his statement that people in charge of overseeing intelligence committees could not answer the question alarms me.
Again I believe that every member of congress should know the details of the conflict that President Bush calls vital to the war on terror. However I would be more understanding if the congressperson overseeing transportation did not know the exact details. But the person who heads the house subcommittee pertaining to the CIA should definitely know. Rather her answer was “You know, I should.” At least she does not pretend to be informed then she really is.
The war right or wrong is clearly vital to our national security. Those who are making key policy decisions about spending, troop levels and overseeing the intelligence process need to know the details of this fight.
To be honest I do not know this information. But I think we all should as an election is coming up and we need to be able to decide who we want in power and evaluate them in a fair and reasoned light.
-Paul
1 response so far ↓
1 bruinboy // Oct 18, 2006 at 12:48 pm
Sunni–majority of Arab world–minority in Iraq believe in all for caliphs as direct successors of Mohammed. Osama is/was a Sunni. 10% of IRAN is Sunni–76% of Saudia Arabia.
Shiites believe on Ali and his decendants are rightful heirs of Mohammed. Majority in Iraq and Iran.
Majority Shiites now in “control” (what there is of if) in Iraq are now seeking revenge for years of minority Sunni rule and abuse. With Iran majority Shiite creates a new dynamic of relationship between Iran/Iraq (fought a multiyear war awhile back with US backing both in various ways)
Saddam (bad man) kept “peace”. Now alignments shifting and confused while others with real WMD (nkorea) create real tension.
Learnings–STUDY and learn from history. Appreciate history and culture of others. Don’t assume your values and chosen political model (democracy) is desired or will work everywhere.
PICK YOUR SPOTS!
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