I don’t know how to say this, Joe, so I’ll just say it straight out.
You and other U.S. soldiers have been in the Persian Gulf area for twelve years, and that’s long enough. I know you freed Kuwait from Iraq’s grip in 1991, and most Arab states are grateful. But now it’s time you and your guys went home.
I know that sounds harsh, and I’m sorry to have to say it, but that’s the way it is.
As you know, Joe, I’m an Arab. Bahrain is where I live. But I have visited the United States twice and have friends over there, so I understand your position as well as mine. And believe me, it’s causing a lot of unrest over here.
I noticed the headline in one of today’s papers said, “U.S. troops face anger as war talk heats up.” I’m not surprised, Joe. And you shouldn’t be either. U.S. troops have been in and around my country so long that resentment is building.
The other day, a shopkeeper told me that he understood U.S. troops were protecting his country and he could live with that. But then he said, “I don’t like to see them when I walk in our shopping malls or in our parks. Nobody likes a foreign military presence in their country.”
That pretty much sums it up. I’m sure you wouldn’t like soldiers from Qatar or Oman patrolling the streets of Chicago or Boston or Atlanta.
Familiarity really does breed contempt, Joe. And the mixed signals we give each other don’t help either.
For instance, a local attack is launched on your marines by an angry bunch, and next day we have to work hard to patch things up. And all because we’re playing a game of trying to understand each other’s cultures. It’s crazy, Joe.
One of your army officers at Camp Doha in Kuwait said, “We’re here to assist the host country.” If you want the truth, Joe, after twelve years we’ve been hosted to death by America. Those are the kinds of statements that make me want the throw up.
If you really want to know, Joe, I’ll give you a few more reasons why we Arabs resent your presence over here. Over and above “protecting” us, that is.
One is, I don’t think U.S. troops will ever be truly welcome over here while you’re also supporting Israel with modern weapons to kill Palestinians.
Another source of resentment, Joe, was voiced the other day by one of Saudi Arabia’s prayer leaders when he said. ” U.S. troops in the kingdom represent America’s greediness and effort to monopolize the wealth of the Muslim world. The U.S. wants to maintain a military presence in the region and attack Iraq to plunder its oil wealth.”
I don’t how much of that is true, Joe, but it’s something to think about.
There’s also been some violence over here, Joe, that your top people ought to give some serious thought to. The other day, in my hometown of Bahrain, an American sailor’s car accidentally hit a woman, and a crowd gathered and shouted “Death to America!” then they roughed up the sailor and his wife so badly they had to be hospitalized.
But maybe, Joe, just maybe, all will be well that ends well. One Qatar civil servant had this to say, “The weak gulf countries needed U.S. help in l990, but now it’s time we built our own armies to replace all foreign forces; the Americans in particular.”
Like I said before, Joe, we in the Arab nations appreciate what you’ve done to help us beat back tyranny, but like Aunt Maud and Uncle George who came for a weekend visit and stayed for a month, you’ve overstayed your visit, and made us wonder if you are ever leaving the Middle East…
The time has come, Joe, for you to leave us Arabs be, and go back home.
“Published originally at EtherZone.com : republication allowed with this notice and hyperlink intact.”