Crusader War College

The Civil War and Iraq

I recall reading a while back of attempts to compare the fighting in Iraq to the Civil War. I can't produce any links, but the conclusion of the discussion was that any such comparison was nonsense.

While I agree with that assessment, it struck me that there may be some similarities between Iraq and the Post-bellum South. To whit:

• The liberation of a formerly oppressed people, with the liberators insisting that they be given full political rights. Compare the Kurds and Shiites to Southern Blacks.
• The continued existence of members of the previous oppressive social class, with the liberators insisting that they participate as equals, and not as masters. Compare the Sunnis in the Triangle with Southern whites.
• The continued existence of members of the previous oppressive regime, with the liberators insisting that former members of the government not be allowed to hold office. Compare Saddam's government with Confederate government members.
• The continued desire of the former oppressive social class to retain their former privileges, including the right to suppress the former underclass. Compare the Sunnis to the Kurds and Shiites.
• The use of vigilante justice on the part of the former oppressive social class to suppress collaborators and "uppity" members of the former underclass. Compare the insurgents to the KKK. Compare their view of cooperating Iraquis to southern views of cooperative southerners as scalawags. Compare their view of Nick Berg to southern views of northerners in the south as Carpetbaggers.

Obviously, the comparisons are not exact: There were no foreign fighters in the Post-bellum South, and Sadr's revolt has no parallel either.

However, what is most persuasive, and discouraging, to me is the similiarity of tactics in the use of terror and intimidation against Iraquis attempting to gain civilian control of their government and reconstruct their nation, and the rise of the Ku Klux Klan. If history is to be any guide, individual Iraquis must be more vigorous and take a greater hand in defending themselves, individually and collectively. They cannot be passive and think that the government will protect them: that attitude is precisely what the terrorists wish them to believe, so that their next attack would make the citizens be enraged at their government instead of the true perpetrators.

They MUST step up to the plate themselves and take responsiblity to bring to fruition the seed of democracy and liberty that American soldiers planted, and which has been watered by Iraqui and American blood. Otherwise, they will sink back into tyranny passively, like the blacks of the post-Bellum South. When that happens, I will NOT be charitable. I will NOT hesitate to say, "You stupid fucks! You had your chance, and YOU BLEW IT!"

Posted by ptah at June 3, 2004 05:42 PM