Just a brief question about Iraq

Has anyone really LOOKED at what they see on the streets of Iraq? Each time I see the pictures transmitted by any of the TV services, I see bunches of people running around the streets armed with AK47 assault rifles, pistols and either firing them wildly into the air or brandishing them around the place in an intimidating manner.

Has anyone thought of disarming these lunatics who go around with all of these guns?

It is hardly likely that the Americans will do it, after all they have a gun culture which is unique to themselves. It is the RIGHT of every American to bear arms according to their constitution. Everyone is thus entitled to purchase and to use all sorts of military weapons in a domestic situation.

Personally I think this leads to madness. Iraq is proof of what CAN happen if you permit any and every person to own a weapon.

It is a nonsense for the Americans to want to restore security much less law and order to the streets of Iraq unless they realise that getting the weapons off the street should be their first call.

Since this is contrary to their own notions about what is right, why do they complain when their people get killed?

In the law of the jungle the mightiest animal is the winner. This is not the case in the urban jungle. The Americans have only to look at their own experience in their revolutionary war of independence. They too were out gunned and out manned by superior British soldiers and yet using guerrilla tactics and living off the land they beat a superior force into submission and carved out a continent for themselves.

What's new about what is happening in Iraq today? Nothing. Only this time the Americans appear to be on the losing side.

When will they learn that their mightiest weapon is their power of trade. In the past they have beaten countries into submission by invading them with their products.

The Chinese and the Japanese have learned this lesson well, while the Americans have developed their armaments the Chinese, Japanese and the Indians have and/or are developing the real power base of the future, manufacturing and service delivery capability.

When will the Arabs learn that they could achieve so much more with trade than they can with arms?

The last flowering of Arab civilisation was based on trade and tolerance. It is obvious to me that this has been lost sight of.