Is the United States Military Promoting Positivism in Iraq and Afghanistan - Assignment Example

Running head: THE UNITED STATES MILITARY Is the United States Military Promoting Positivism in Iraq and Afghanistan? You’re Name University Abstract This research will focus on military operations that have been ongoing in Iraq and Afghanistan for the past few years now. Though there are differing opinions on what the accomplishments are in these two regions of the world, the main discussion here is on whether or not there has truly been any positivism that has resulted through the military’s intervention tactics in these two countries. There are those that say both of these wars where mistakes and the United States should have left well enough alone; while there are others that state these Middle Eastern people are finally free to live their lives more fully and openly, without fear of retribution from their enemies. The truth is war is never neat and tied with a bow. Following war there exist repercussions that have to be dealt with and it is these various circumstances that make it appear the military has not helped matters any but indeed possibly made the living situations in these areas worse. The conclusion of the research sums up the evidence by showing that patience, dedication, perseverance, and faith are what the United States military and other NGO organizations draw on to try and calm a previous hostile area and bring in peace for a new chance at a normal life for the people. So, in this regard what the media portrays is only a portion of what actually takes place, there is far more good occurring than what many people realize. Is the United States Military Promoting Positivism in Iraq and Afghanistan? Introduction When looking back on past wars and the occurrences that took place during them, and following the rebuilding or clean up, a person can see the transition of fighting changes lives. The same can be said for countries like Afghanistan and Iraq. Although the necessary changes are filled with difficulties they are ultimately meant for the betterment of the people within these regions. The people of the United States and in other areas of the world seem to be split down the middle of whether or not the military has done any good in its ongoing operations in these two regions of the world, but obviously to many they feel certain in stating that they have. For instance, Saddam Hussein, a once ruthless dictator has been removed from power and his entire Ba’ath party uprooted, allowing for the people to have a sense of small freedom even now (WSJ 2004). Despite what the media projects to the public back in the safety of the States, the United States military and others working with them are making a gradual difference in the people’s lives. They are protecting them from insurgents to the best of their ability and they are attempting to safeguard them from threats in the most efficient ways that they know how. Death is always something that is going to exist in times such as in these areas of the world, it can’t be avoided. To say that simply because people are dying or getting injured is not leading to any positivism within these two regions is false. This is especially true when you look at what the dictator of Iraq alone had been subjecting his own people too on a daily basis. At least now, with the military’s intervention these people don’t have to worry about a ruthless leader poisoning them, starving them, or subjecting them to terror that they feel trapped and isolated in. This has been lifted from them and in this alone; there is definite positivism for the people to be found (Norton & Wilson 2006). Again, where the main controversy is coming in at is what the media is projecting and what they are showing is not the total truth. For example there are ideas that the military is racist and egotistical, dominating many of the people of Iraq and Afghanistan. These claims aren’t true, and although there is good and bad everywhere the majority of the military’s efforts are meant for the good, not any more negativity. The media needs to show this instead of focusing on the uglier aspects of what is taking place. An article that was published in The Guardian in January of this year is somewhat one of the issues that create the heavier controversy of whether or not the military is achieving what it is meant to be achieving (Norton & Wilson 2006). For instance, one of the senior officers in the British military stated that while the United States military was constantly courteous to the Iraqi people, “it is the cultural insensitivity, almost certainly inadvertent, which arguably amounts to institutionally racism” (Norton & Wilson 2006). Comments such as these, no matter how much truth they might hold hurt the military operations and bring down morale of the soldiers trying to do a job. It has never been stated that the military is perfect; they are still people who have to learn. It is doubted that anyone could state they would know how to handle all situations that occur in such a complicated, religious based land. At times it is confusing and hectic but still, and yet again, the soldiers are doing all that they can to make things right for the people. This should be more important than passing comments or differing opinions among people throughout the world. Achievements of the United States Military Operations in Iraq and Afghanistan Out of the many positive actions that the military has achieved in Iraq some of the main ones fall back to the evidence that the military has located in the country linking Saddam Hussein to terrorist groups such as ‘Al Qaeda’ (WSJ 2004). There have been many records discovered which show that Hussein was planning various terrorist acts, some of these against his own people who did not agree with his regimen. By the military intervening the way that they did many lives were possibly saved even though there have been a great many that have been lost in the fighting. Again however, this is something that goes along with war, and death is something that is inevitable during times were there is constant fighting and strategic maneuvering among the military. Furthermore, there have been links established showing that Saddam’s son ‘Uday’ was affiliated with people who were and are members of Al Qaeda and this has allowed for the United States Government to gather crucial information to try and minimize terrorist threats all throughout the world, but especially in the Middle East. It somewhat breaks the chain of authority and leaves the terrorist groups scrambling with many uncertainties. This also prevents numerous strongholds of terrorist groups from spreading like the plague as well. Of course this isn’t to say that the terrorist organizations aren’t still operating but what it is implying is that they have been crippled in their abilities with the toppling of Saddam Hussein and his regimen (WSJ 2004). This also shows that the reasons for the war go way beyond just justification of saving the Iraqi people. It defines that a great number of avenues to fight terrorism have been able to be achieved as well. By finding the documentation within Saddam’s quarters concerning Al Qaeda, there have quite possibly been leads developing to help the United States Government find better ways of maintaining the United States own security against terrorism, and preventing an episode such as 9/11 from transpiring again. Looking back at Iraq before the war it is obvious how disadvantaged and downtrodden many of the Iraqi people were. They feared the dictator, Saddam Hussein. The Iraqi people knew that if they rebuked his rules and did not follow his regimen then they would be tortured or killed. For years other countries sat by while this dictator gradually ripped away the souls of the Iraqi people. They could not live in peace because they were not a free society then. The economy was being eradicated away and violence was the main theme in the country (U.S. Dept. of State 2006). The income for the people was lower than the poverty level that could be found in Angola, a very harsh picture indeed. The Baath party had definitely over shadowed the need for developmental institutions for the people of the country, ultimately closing them off from society. They had no idea what real freedom truly was then. However, once the regimen was overturned many possibilities began to gradually develop for the Iraqi people and their fears have been slowly dissipitating ever since. They do have fears of course but these are minuter now than what they have been in the past 20 years most definitely. Now in 2006, though there is still a long way to go the Iraqi people can be pleased in knowing that they aren’t closed off from the world any longer. The bulleted points show the much transpiration that has been taking place in the past two years: Free elections now take place in Iraq and since 2005, the amount of people taking part has been increasing showing that they have faith in what is being attempted in the country The economy has been improving, slowly but surely. The GDP is said to possibly accrue to a value of at least 10.4% by the end of this year which is just around the corner The currency has been changed and is no longer a part of the Baath party, making it more valuable and pronouncing a new way of life for the people as many past ways are denounced Iraq has become a part of the International Community, something that never could have been possible under Hussein’s dictatorship Debt Relief is being taken care of and this is also something that is gradually improving the countries economy Many different International banks are beginning businesses in the country of Iraq opening new doors for the people as well They now have a stock market, something that was unforeseeable under Hussein. It is believed that there could possibly be at least 90 businesses in later years There are now cell phone services in the country and even Internet cafes so that the people can learn more about other parts of the world freely and without any fear The businessmen of Iraq feel confident in the changes and believe that the economy of the country will continue to improve, a far cry from how they might have felt three years ago under Hussein (U.S. Dept. of State 2006). This shows many improvements that have been being implemented within the country of Iraq and of which have been making a great difference in the Iraqi people’s lives. These are definitely positive influences, not negative ones. It is hard to fathom how this country was 3 years ago compared to what is being seen taking place in current times. The picture is far from perfect, that is very true but there are so many positive enlightenments, things that would never have happened in the past. It is hard to deny that everything is negative when it is obviously not. Though the interactions that are taking place in Afghanistan are quite different from what is happening in Iraq there are improvements there in combating terrorism and reducing terrorist group’s ability to plan evasive maneuvers against other countries. So both of these areas are transcending from what they use to be in positive ways but at a slower pace than what was initially to be expected which should be understandable. In conclusion, though the transformations of Afghanistan and Iraq are not where people expected them to be it can not be denied that they have improved. This is especially true of Iraq. It is true that there is still a great deal of insurgency that has to be brought under control but the people are living better and are free, something that was one of the main goals of the United States military. The United States itself has better ways of improving homeland security now as do other countries that were faced with threats like these as well. By removing the Baath party from Iraq, and crumbling some of the terrorist strongholds in Afghanistan, it has eliminated many concerns that were in existence. Now, it is just a matter of time before everything is quelled and both of these countries can have a normal life with free choice and a strong yet positive governmental body to rule over them, free from tyranny and terrorism. References Norton, Richard & Wilson, James. (2006, January). US Army in Iraq Institutionally Racist, Claims British Officer. The Guardian. Retrieved October 11, 2006 from the World Wide Web: http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1684561,00.html U.S. Dept. of State. (2006). Rebuilding Iraq: U.S. Achievements Through the Iraq Relief and Reconstruction Fund. Retrieved October 11, 2006 from the World Wide Web: http://www.state.gov/p/nea/rls/rpt/60857.htm WSJ. Com. (2004, August). Saddam’s Files. Retrieved October 11, 2006 from the World Wide Web: http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110005133 Read More