At last, a president who makes sense

This is so long in the coming. President Obama’s speech on responsibly ending the war in Iraq hit a raw nerve. Of course, actions speak louder than words and it remains to be seen in the coming months and years how it will all unfold. But the unambiguous and direct way which President Obama has outlined his intentions in the Middle East has again won my respect. Firstly, he emphasized handling Iraq over to its own people.

We have acted with careful consideration of events on the ground; with respect for the security agreements between the United States and Iraq; and with a critical recognition that the long-term solution in Iraq must be political – not military. Because the most important decisions that have to be made about Iraq’s future must now be made by Iraqis.

So to the Iraqi people, let me be clear about America’s intentions. The United States pursues no claim on your territory or your resources. We respect your sovereignty and the tremendous sacrifices you have made for your country. We seek a full transition to Iraqi responsibility for the security of your country. And going forward, we can build a lasting relationship founded upon mutual interests and mutual respect as Iraq takes its rightful place in the community of nations.

I don’t think Bush has ever said this as clearly as President Obama. Under Bush and his neocons, I don’t think Iraq sovereignty is even under their consideration. Their objectives are first and foremost exert control and influence over Iraq so they can exert control over the Middle-East in case it turns anti-American. Iraq sovereignty is secondary to American grand strategy.

The starting point for our policies must always be the safety of the American people. I know that you – the men and women of the finest fighting force in the history of the world – can meet any challenge, and defeat any foe. And as long as I am your Commander-in-Chief, I promise you that I will only send you into harm’s way when it is absolutely necessary, and provide you with the equipment and support you need to get the job done. That is the most important lesson of all – for the consequences of war are dire, the sacrifices immeasurable.

This is a repudiation of the neocon ideology of making maximum use of military power to exert influence rather than a tool of the very last resort.

We also know that service does not end with the person wearing the uniform. In her visits with military families across the country, my wife Michelle has learned firsthand about the unique burden that your families endure every day. I want you to know this: military families are a top priority for Michelle and me, and they will be a top priority for my administration. We’ll raise military pay, and continue providing quality child-care, job-training for spouses, and expanded counseling and outreach to families that have known the separation and stress of war. We will also heed the lesson of history – that those who fight in battle can form the backbone of our middle class – by implementing a 21st century GI Bill to help our veterans live their dreams.

His gratitude and promise to the men and women in uniform, that they’ll not be used and then forgotten.

There are many lessons to be learned from what we’ve experienced. We have learned that America must go to war with clearly defined goals, which is why I’ve ordered a review of our policy in Afghanistan. We have learned that we must always weigh the costs of action, and communicate those costs candidly to the American people, which is why I’ve put Iraq and Afghanistan into my budget. We have learned that in the 21st century, we must use all elements of American power to achieve our objectives, which is why I am committed to building our civilian national security capacity so that the burden is not continually pushed on to our military. We have learned that our political leaders must pursue the broad and bipartisan support that our national security policies depend upon, which is why I will consult with Congress and in carrying out my plans. And we have learned the importance of working closely with friends and allies, which is why we are launching a new era of engagement in the world.

His eloquent summary of the lessons to be learnt from the war in Iraq. Well said ! Of course, President Obama’s intentions may sound candid and lofty but there are neocon elements in the government and the Republicans and maybe even the Democrats themselves who can derail his plans. The real enemies are in Washington and I really hope that President Obama can overcome the obstacles thrown in his way. But so far, finally a president who actually makes sense !

Letter to Bush

There’s been lots of calls to submit questions for President-elect Obama but I think we should also write to bid farewell to the outgoing president :

Dear President Bush,

Thank you for your hard work and sacrifice leading America for the last 8 years. We all know it has not been an easy task for you and you have indeed weathered a lot of storms starting with the momentous 9/11 event. I think that is probably the watershed event that defines your entire presidency.

For the next few months following 9/11, you have shown strength and resolve and have provided strong support for the fearful population to find comfort in. You have led us out of an abyss of fear, confusion, sorrow and pain. Things are starting to improve and the world has rallied around us. We have a historic window of opportunity and global mandate at that time to start healing a divide that has given birth to the scourge of terrorism. But unfortunately, you didn’t take advantage of it. It started with the occupation of Afghanistan together with support from America’s allies. That initial success took out the Taleban and sent them fleeing. Then comes the critical rebuilding of a broken nation kicked around like a football by decades of big power contests. As in all wars, sending the army in is the easy part, but securing it is the key and much, much more difficult. But things are starting to plod along slowly for Afghanistan.

Then comes I think undeniably the biggest blunder of your presidency of which 7 years later will decide how you will be judged against. You decided to believe in the misguided ideology of the New American World Order envisioned by the neocons. They thought that with the previous Gulf War success and America’s superpower military might coupled with the largest economy, they can sustain and broaden the fight against the terrorists. Unfortunately, it is a flawed ideology centered wholly on the self-interests of America ignoring the complexities of the world. You found an excuse for invading Iraqi by labeling it an imminent threat and then marketing it as spreading democracy and liberty for the Iraqis. History has shown us that any ideology when carried to extremes is always dangerous. Like they say, the road to hell is paved with good intentions. It is even more so if the practitioners of the ideology blindly resolve to embrace it as core principles and use it to justify their actions. This is the cause for the rise of communism, fascism and now terrorism. Terrorists also firmly believe that they are fighting for a just cause and they probably also feel no guilt about it. This is what makes them even more dangerous than common criminals who are driven by mainly by greed. If you were to look into a mirror, sir, you will find very little difference between the extremes of the neocon ideology and terrorism. Both are fueled by the same misguided and misplaced emotions of patriotism, extreme religious fervor and unquestioned loyalty to their cause. There can be no compromise, no middle ground. Middle grounds are derided as weak and vacillating. It’s either win all or be annihilated. Both does not see the use of force and violence as instruments of the very last resort but as an everyday tool that can be whipped out and used as and when required. Both thrives on ignorance and negative emotions and depends on spreading misinformation and stoking bigoted, prejudicial, hateful emotions to keep their herd in order. I hate to say this but really there are more similarities between your administration and the terrorists than you’ll like to admit. But of course, you don’t go around intentionally killing civilians and destroying lives. But having your finger on the trigger of the world’s most powerful and destructive army will have a huge, devastating effect as you already know with tens of thousands of Iraqi civilians dead because of the war. This is the humongous human price tag for the Iraqi war but, till now, I don’t believe you have grasp the gravity of it from your fist pumping photo-op landing on the aircraft carrier to repeated self-delusional denials.

Why I say that the 9/11 event is the watershed because it sets in motion so many seemingly knee-jerk decisions by your administration that undermines the constitution and the moral leadership of America. It also distracts you from solving all other highly pressing issues some of which have been on the back-burner for decades. The Iraq war has not only drained the administration’s resources but also the piggy bank. There is simply not much leverage left in responding to economic downturns because of the burdens of the war. All the pronunciations of “The economy is strong” is complete rubbish. The downturn of 2001 have already demonstrated the need for prudence. Unfortunately, because of the need to finance the war and make sure the economy chugs along, you chose to spend beyond our means and keep encouraging Americans to do so to keep the machine running. You have chosen to turn a blind eye to the obviously overheating real estate market, which is pretty obvious by the way according to some economists with enough common sense, letting it run its natural course to the ground. Big problems like health care are neglected. Energy independence is given lip service. Responses to natural disasters like Katrina are botched because of unpreparedness and lack of resources. Yes, of course I know, because there is simply no resource left to address these issues. All because of 9/11. From that fateful day, one string of bad judgements feed on the next and it becomes a domino-effect, finally knocking down all blocks. All culminating now in the string of events now unfolding just before you leave. The machine is starting to crack under pressure and now that broken machine will now be shoved to the next president to repair and overhaul. It feels to me just too convenient and irresponsible.

On hindsight, what we need the last 7 years is actually cool, level headedness and a realistic and pragmatic approach free from ideology or religion. This is even more so because an event like 9/11 which will ignite a firestorm of latent emotions and dormant prejudices needs rationality more than anything else. Cries for revenge and retribution must be calmly put down. This is not countries going to war in the conventional sense but a small group of diehards in the Islamic world who are sick of Western hypocrisy and chose the path of violence to make a point. It has nothing to do with the Islamic world and your administration should have taken pains to address this misconception instead of fanning it for your own objectives. You have also basically overreach yourselves and over estimated America’s resources and under estimated the effort required to help Iraq to stand on their own. There is also fear and mistrust of letting Iraqis be masters of their own fate because they might become another bastion of anti-America sentiment. This causes the US to be perceived as hypocritical and they will become cynical as to America’s real intentions like control of oil supplies and permanent military bases against Iran, Syria, etc. All these problems cannot be addressed simply in a knee-jerk fashion, it needs a higher strategic perspective married with moral ideals. It is a larger war of winning the hearts and minds, more than just a simple matter of killing all the terrorists and setting up military bases. Even if bin Laden is killed, the war is not yet won. The real battleground lies within the minds of the people of America and the Islamic world, not in the battlegrounds of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq. The war can only be won when Muslims one day don’t see America any more as hypocritical overbearing imperialists but as neighbours whom they would like to have or, at the very least, can tolerate next door.

Mr President, as a human being I don’t think you are bad and we all know you are generally a nice guy but I do think you and your team are the most unqualified and extremely incompetent for possibly the most important job on this planet. I sincerely hope that President-elect Obama can reverse and heal the damage and redeem your mistakes for all our sakes. I wish you all the best in your future endeavors.

Best regards,

Chern Lai

The 9/11 Shadow

Every time 9/11 comes by, there’ll be the usual observance and commemorations. But has the US learn anything from this the past 7 years ? Has the sacrifices of the dead been not in vain ? I’m not sure. How the Americans have gone about dealing with 9/11 have been 1 of knee-jerk arrogance and defiance, going for gung-ho violent tactics in the name of spreading freedom and chest-thumping, flag-waving, patriotic self-promotion. They have largely ignored what the effect is on the world and even more so in Iraq. Lucky for Bush, an able general Petraeus have stood up for the job and saved the US some discredit in this war by not having any of the Republican’s cowboy attitudes get in the way. He knows that it’ll take much more than guns blazing to win this kind of war. Gen Petraeus have succeeded not only because he wants to win for the US but because he also wants to secure the peace among Iraqis. He has succeeded because the war should also be as much about the Iraqi citizens as about the American troops. In the many years ahead, it will not be violent intimidation of terrorists that will win but more in winning and educating the hearts and minds, and in particular the enemies’ hearts & minds. The enemies here have a more complicated profile than a simple good guy / bad guy stereotype. They will have the support of the disenchanted or misguided segments of the local population and the line will not be clear as to who’s foe. They also truly believe that they’re doing the right thing. So how many can you kill before you’re safe. It only takes 15 people to wreak havoc on 9/11. Israel+Palestine and Chinese swordfighting movies have shown us the unproductive, destructive cycles of vengeance. The US will get caught up in this cycle if they were to continue in their cavalier, cowboy, gun-toting attitudes and there’ll be no end in sight for terrorism. It will also alienate the world and end up having less support from everybody else for their causes. The US’ll definitely need the help of friendly as well as, yes, god forbid, even more so really unfriendly countries to root out terrorism. It doesn’t take much to see that Iran + Palestine are the 2 keys that can help solve this problem.

The myopic Bush would like to think that all’s well as nothing has happened yet on US soil but has the threat been eliminated ? Then why send more troops to Afghanistan’s border ? The number of troops overseas active in counter-insurgency is still increasing and this is a clear indication that all’s not really very well. The terrorists have simply split and regrouped somewhere else and like cancer, they wait to strike again. It’s a forever cat & mouse game that will slowly bleed the US and time is on the side of the terrorists. The neocon Republican ways have been lose-lose from the start and I think the US is still back where they started or even worse off, year-on-year having to spend increasingly massive amount of resources to keep America terrorism-proof.