He says that the reason why Iraq has outside interference is because the Iranians, Saudis, and Syrians fear a strong, unified Iraq. They would like nothing more than to see it sectioned into 3 separate countries because they would gobble it up like Saddam tried with Kuwait. The Turks just want to kill the Kurds but will not interfere unless there is no united Iraq.
Which brings us to another point he made, Iraq has no real national identity as we have in the United States. We are all Americans and understand that. He sees that as one of the biggest problems here.
He too believes that Saddam should have been removed back in 1991. We left him off the ropes when he was beaten and we had all the support of the coalition behind us. He speculates that something happened behind the scenes that Saddam was left in place. I think perhaps it had something to do with the specter of Vietnam and the doctrine of limited warfare.
This is a guy who could be in the states right now with his family but as an Iraqi he wants what is best for his countrymen. If you remember back to what happened on the 9th of October, this is the same guy who said, "Same God."
He also believes that part of the problem with the insurgents is the lack of jobs; they join militias like people join gangs in big cities. Then they can do the things they want as part of the bigger group. Thug behavior at best. We discussed which came first the poverty or the criminal thinking and decided it was another chicken or the egg discussion. Jail was another problem; it introduces some of them into the militias just as it seems to make better criminals in the US. How many Boot Camp graduates have I seen come back to prison for Postgraduate work?
All and all he wants us to stay until the work is done. Then he can go to the states with his family. I have a new respect for these guys who are interpreters.
